This question is posed on behalf of Tova Wang, member of the Practitioners' Network.

I am in the process of conducting research regarding barriers to women's voter registration. While it is widely recognized that voter registration procedures can present challenges to citizen participation in elections, in many parts of the world, women can face particular obstacles. 

• What examples are there of particular obstacles that women face around the world when it comes to voter registration?

Country examples as well as specific types of barriers that women face when registering to vote are much appreciated.

Summary of Responses

PN members mentioned many barriers to women’s voter registration in different parts of the world. Members overwhelmingly cited cultural beliefs surrounding the role of women in society, notingt how these frameworks impact women's participation in public life, and more specifically, political participation. Barriers to women's voter registration are grouped into the following sections:

Cultural Constraints :

Many members mentioned the prevalence of patriarchal cultural beliefs that isolate women from public life (e.g. Northern Nigeria, Pakistan). When intersecting with religious frameworks (e.g. Christianity, Islam), such expectations can prevent women from undergoing finger printing or facial recognition registration out of fear of having to remove their veils (e.g. Uganda in 2006). Similarly, women may be unable to stand in the same line as men, preventing them from registering. PN Members additionally noted the following cultural constraints:

• Women's perceptions of themselves. In certain contexts women may not see themselves as voters, and prefer to concentrate on domestic activities. Furthermore, as one PN member noted from Zimbabwe, women may also not feel confident or politically informed enough to register.
• Household power dynamics that make men custodians of identification documents or National Identification cards.

• Illiteracy and a lack of education. In cultures where girls' education is not prioritized, women are often less educated than men. Many women may be illiterate, unaware of the political process, or both. Consequently, as one PN member noted, women may not be aware of their right to compete in elections or how to fulfill the necessary legal requirements of candidacy.
• Political apathy. As a PN member from Burkina Faso noted, some women are unable to see the impact of voting and elections on the quality of their lives. Seeing extremely low levels of women in leadership positions may also affect women’s registration.

Logistical or Structural Constraints :

• The distance between women’s homes and the registration center, which can be exacerbated by poor transport infrastructure.
• Household responsibilities and domestic chores. These may affect women’s abilities to wait in long queues during voter registration.
• A lack of documentation. In both rural and urban areas women may lack legal documents such as birth certificates and national identity cards required for registration.
• Physical insecurity and political/societal conflict, which may affect women who need to walk long distances to registration centers (e.g. Northeastern Kenya). As one PN member noted, previously violent elections (e.g. Kenya in 2007-2008) may discourage women from voting in fear of violence erupting again. Furthermore, another member noted that women are more vulnerable to election violence.
• Women’s health conditions during the time for registration, especially when women are expecting children. One PN member noted that in the western Kenya women who are expecting are culturally prohibited from being seen in public.
• Poverty and unemployment. This may affect women’s abilities to afford transport to registration centers.

Internal Resources

Survey Assessing Barriers to Women Obtaining Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) by IFES Pakistan

Contributing Members

Adeolas Olayiwola

Carl Dundas

Liberata Irambona

Idd Kaahwa

Agnes Obutu Marete

Kwamboka Mogaka Florence

Ole Holtved

Jacqueline Mwebesa Atuheirwe

Laila Mudadi

Bucumi Julius

Alexandrine Nigoboka

Denise Nzisabira

Adiza Lamien Ouando

Ngondo Ndjondo Abbel

Manassé Manirambona

Jean Bosco Hitimana

Constance Simbayobewe

Koudra Nahimana

Ochana Patrick

George Ngugi Gathuka

Benny Goodnews Oguejiofor

Atem Oban Henry Ekpeni

Hadiatou Ouattara

Cypriano Ogwang

Dr, Noor Mohammad

Hyacinthe Kirasagirijwe

The most frequent obstacles to women registering to vote in elections are tradition and religion. The reason given is that women cannot go out without a male companion or women may not allow photos of them to be taken. This is found in parts of Pakistan North West Frontier regions and northern Nigeria where women registration and polling are disproportionately low. 

I can say that in some countries the most raison should be domestic activities, specially in Africa women are only responsible  for those activities. Man are considered like King. An other raison is countries' culture, in many countries widely politic is made for men not for women so for them there is no raison to be registered because it's a matter for men only.  Religion can be also a motif of non registration raison for women for example in those countries with "sharia low". Finally people in general ignore their right. We need improvement in our civic education.

But Rwanda is an best practice , we have found a solution through civic education and campaigns,we have took our time and educated women to lead. And now this year, April more than 54.3% of women are registered  on our voter list and men are 45.7%

Women participation in voter registration face the following obstacles:-

1. Religion:In preparation for 2006 General elections in Uganda,Catholic and moslem women protested having to remove their veils so as to undergo the new finger print and facial recognition registration system that was introduced earlier in 2005

2. Women also shy away from public declaration of their age and birth dates

3. Domestic engagements  and the long queues at registration centers are a serious hindrance

4. Emotions> fear to register and vote for candidates who later lose is hard for some women to handle

5. Some registration centers are too far for women to walk.This is true in villages here in Uganda

6. In some cases, husbands prevent their wives from participation especially where they subscribe to different political parties\ideologies.Cases of domestic violence as a result are common.

The obstacles affecting women participation in elections  especially in voter registration are social cultural.

Some women are not allowed by their husbands to apply for a national Id whreas others are ignorant on the need for an ID. For any official transaction, the woman presents her husbands or sons ID.

Domestic responsibilities prevent women from registering especially due to the long queques yet the woman has children, land to till and livestock to attend to.

The distance especially in some parts of Kenya where the registration centres are sparse, the women find it far to walk to the registration centres.

Insecurity makes women not to register especially if walking long distances to the registration centres and the place is insecure. This is more so in North eastern Kenya.

 In some communities in Kenya, it is the head of the family (men/husbands) who are the custodians of the identification document or National Identification required for registration as a voter. Therefore the decision for women to register relies entirely on the head of the family who will release the document at will. This is mostly in the pastoral communities.

The role of choosing or electing leaders in some traditional African communities was the preserve of men. This role has found its place in contemporary African communities as traditions are not easily written off. Women are expected by society to be home makers and those who find their way to the registration centers do so at the instructions of the men on where to register and more so who to vote for.

Women do not find it a priority to present themselves to register as voters. They instead concentrate in domestic activities such as child care and other family chores. They are so much pre occupied with these duties and see the noble duty of applying for registration as "on the side activity"

Accessibility of registration centers. Some registration centers are located far away and women find it difficult to travel the long distances. Furthermore, transport infrastructure may discourage the women who may be required to for example cross several rivers before reaching the centers. Women therefore do not feel secure traveling several kilometers while enduring the above difficulties.

Health conditions of women at the time of registration. Women can find it difficult to avail themselves for registration as voters especially when they are expectant. Among the western part of Kenya communities, expectant women (a few) are culturally not allowed to be seen in public as it may attract bad omen for the mother and the unborn child.

Past election events and outcomes may discourage women from registering as voters. The post election violence of 2007/2008 in Kenya created voter apathy especially among women who felt discouraged to register and possible repeat of  the violence. However, with continuous voter education and peace building initiatives, the confidence of the women in elections has been built once again.

For barriers to women registration in Pakistan, please see attached survey conducted earlier this year by IFES.

There are several factors that bar women from participating in voter registration and the voting process as a whole;

1.In Uganda like many other African nations,women are expected to be submissive and supportive of their husbands in every decision they make,so if he supports a certain candidate one is expected to do the same,many women decide therefore that instead of being forced to go against their wishes they would rather boycott the whole exercise,we could call this cultural influence/barrier.

2.poverty and unemployment is another factor,this is where you find that most women are too poor to even afford a little transport to take them to these registration centers,they are already bogged down by home/family needs and see this as wastage of the already meager resources.

3.ignorance as a result of illiteracy,during registration there are several questions that are asked,some women cant comprehend these questions and so many times shy away to avoid embarrassment,some are comfortable in their ignorance and don't realize or know the importance of this whole exercise.

This reply is posted on behalf of Laila Mudadi, member of the Practitioners' Network.

Some of the common obstacles found by women when they want to register as voters are;

1. Culture and tradition, in many underdeveloped countries women are not given their right to exercise their personal right but in many instances considered as if they were to follow or agree with whatever decision their male counterparts will have agreed on. In some culture the husbands will not want wives who outspoken neither do they want wives who advocate for their rights openly. Most men feel threatened and they also think their manhood to lead would have been bruised if the women openly asks for their rights.

2. Religion and beliefs in some cases also downplays the right of the women to exercise their rights to register as voters by not allowing women to stand in the same ques with their male counterparts for them to register, unless if the electoral management body facilitates for different ques/lines so that the women can register.

3. Inferiority complex; in the past participating in the electoral process was considered a male persons responsibility, hence women would not know that they also have the same responsibility to participate  so they would not bother to register as voters hence the need to voter educate them on the electoral process. 

4. Change of names after they get married; other women find it cumbersome to get all their details of their personal documents read the same name hence they might be turned away  whilst in the process of voter registration.

5. Failure to acquire physical properties in their names; other electoral management bodies requires proof of residences in the registrant's name for one to be allowed to register therefore, many women find the issue of proof of residence as a hindrance for them to register.

6. Ignorance and illiteracy; surely in many African countries going to school was first given the opportunity to men/boy child than  the girl child, hence ignorance to know that registering to vote is for every body. Also failure to understand and appreciate the benefits of participating in the electoral process.

7. Lack of information; usually the greater number of women are left home looking after the family and many are not even having access to the information of what will be happening outside their homes hence some of these activities can pass leaving women unaware.

8. Inaccessibility and affordability; if the registration center are at a distance and might require some financial implication and if the woman is not working it might be very difficult to access the center hence they will fail to register as voters. And also if the center  is at a distance the women might find no time to access the center.

Thanks to all of you, these are some great replies! I'd love to follow up with some of you individually if that's ok with you.  Tova

Many obstacles prevent or reduce women figures from voter registration:

1. Cultural and religious obstacles: many women still be under the yokes  of their social culture or religion. There is a kind of  work division. Politics for men, domestic activities  and taking care of kids for women. It is forbiden for women to appear publically or be a leader  where there are men . This kind of brain-washing prenvent ladies  from having no interest in politics, pubilc affairs participation.

2. Lack of ID documents : Less interest in looking for ID documents for they do not know their importance in the daily life except to show it to the police in case they are asked so. Some of them do not leave their homes for travelling and neglect to go to look for ID document which is required condition in a registration process.

3. Educational level:   If your are not enough educated your ignore that you  have to vote and you have to be voted for. When women will know their right to be candidates in elections, their interest will eincrease and the will to fulfil the legal requirements in an election process such as registration documents, will high.

4. Povety: Some women do not have  means to fulfil by them selves  the legal requirements such as iD documents, bus fare for looking ID document or to go to vote,  etc.

5. Overwork: some women are too busy in family activities and do not   have time for political activities.

6. Their condition of women and distance to registration station or public services to get ID documents. Some times they are pregnant and feel not able to do a long distance and let fall such political and civil right.

Julius Bucumi,

Inspector of Justice, Burundi

Manque de  vision d'interêt politique car les femmes sont plus accrochées aux résponsabilitée familiales. De plus la nature humaine feminine reste une barrière infranchissable  pour l'ouverture au processus électoral ;Ce phenomène est renforcé par la culture de certaines sociétés ( religions, par exemple la religion musulmane  écrase la femme à la scène politique).

NIGOBOKA Alexandrine

Responsable de Structure Légère de la Commission Electorale en Province Cankuzo,BURUNDI

Women met many barriers to voter registration.

1.Cultural and religious barrier:women do not have to dare arguing politics with men.They even do  not dare to leave home for participation in politic discussion.Politics for men and family activities for women

2.Lack of information:Most of African women are supposed to stay home for social activities such farming, looking after children and therefore are ignorant in the field of Democratic elections.They don't know how and why to register .

3.Lack of ID card: This document is the first one required in many countries for voter registration and women rarely have it because they don't know its importance. They think that it is only useful while travelling.Women are always busy in family works and rarely travel.

4.Poverty and too much work

examples are there of particular obstacles that women face around the world when it comes to voter registration:

Lack of legal documents: most of women in rural and even urban areas don't  have birth certificate and/or national  identity cards required for registration

Distance from centres of  registration. Most women can count on their feet as a means of travel. So even those who would like to register if not helpt by their husbands have to give up

Voting as other political activities are seen as for men. I have these examples in Burkina Faso in 1998 when we have trained women in image boxes on howto vote and on which bases. Then, when registration time came, some of the husbands wanted them to stay at home, because, the head of family is representative of all the family members

The burden of domestic work and the division of this work are obstacle to women registration because, if there is no one else to stay with the children, the man would not because it is a female task

The zero impact of voting on the improvement of women's lifes. most of women are not members of political parties and don't vote because there is no visible impact of elections on the change of rulers as the same are still in power for more than twenty years besides elections, and also because are used as  electors and then the programs implemented are not gender and equity focused

low or no level of education: most of women have not atteded any formal or informal school, and are excluded from political activities and do not see the usefulness.

In countries when moslem is guiding people's daily lives, the decision to register doesn't come from women but from their men.

The image politicians are giving to politics make educated and women aware of their value, their rights run away from the political arena. These women who have a vision of what the goal  of politics should be and how politics is implemented don't regiter as the results of voting are modified in favour of ruling parties.

Adiza Lamien Ouando, women political participation expert

je voudrais juste vous donner les cas précis de mon pays la République Démocratique du Congo:

1. le problème de distance qui sépare un Centre d'inscription à un autre: dans mon pays, chaque centre d'inscription correspond à un groupement ou quartier, ce derniers sont des circonscriptions électorales pour les élections locales, souvent, les groupements sont vaste de plus 100 villages  par exemple, et alors le système d'itinérance n'est pas admis, il est difficile qu'une femme qui attend famille ou qui a un bébé parcourt plus 50 à 100 km à pied pour aller se faire enrôler; mais une fois aussi arriver, dans nos manuels de procédure, on donne privilège à toute femme qui allaite ou qui attend famille d'entrer en priorité, même priorité est donnée aux personnes de troisième âge et aux hommes vivants avec handicap.

2. An-alphabétisation : ce phénomène est observé parmi les femmes rurales, beaucoup d'entre elles n'ont pas étudié, il est difficile de connaitre l'âge des leurs enfants et d'elles même aussi, ce n'est pas parce qu'on a un enfant voir même deux enfants, qu'elles ont atteint l'âge de la majorité; car le mariage précoce existe encore et qu'il y a de filles de 13 ans qui sont prises en mariage, avant 18 ans, elles peuvent avoir 2, 3, 4 sans pour atteindre la majorité.

3.Travaux ménagers : les femmes dans mon pays sont essentiellement ménagères, si un centre d'inscription se trouvent à distance, elle refuse de s'y rendre de peur que ses enfants meurent de faim pendant son déplacement, elle préfère ne pas aller s'inscrire.

4. Incivisme: beaucoup de femmes ne connaissent pas leurs droits ni même leur devoir civiques, elles disent que les élections sont une affaire des autres qui viennent de centres urbains et qu'elles  n'ont rien à bénéficier de ça. elles font des élections une affaire des autres

NB: généralement dans mon pays, le taux d'inscription de femmes sur les listes électorales est plus élevé que celui des hommes,parce que le nombre de femme est plus élevé que celui des hommes, cela s'explique par les guerres qui sévissent depuis plus de 10 ans dans mon pays et l’espérance de vie des hommes qui est inférieurs à celle de femme

Je part de mon Pays, le BURUNDI, dans ma ville de travail: MUYINGA.

Je vais vous partager les obstacles cités par les femmes de la Commune MUYINGA pendant une réunion de sensibilisation organisée par l'Association FONTAINE "ISOKO" en collaboration avec l'ONG Américaine "SEARCH FOR COMON GROUND" à l'intention des élus Collinaires et représentant des organisation diversée dans le but d'améliorer le niveau de participation de la femme aux élections. Pendant cette réunion, les femmes et les hommes présents ont soulevé les obstacles suivants:

- l'attachement aux moeurs et coutumes du pays. En effet, la famme dans le contexte burundais est considérée comme quelcune qui doit s'occuper des travaux de la maison. elle ne doit pas sortir beaucoup de l'enclos familliale.

- le manque de confiance de la part de ces amis. Les femme au Burundi n'ont pas encore cette conscience de montrer leur capacité politique. Elle se souséstiment mutuellement. Même quand une femme ose se porter candidate, les autre la découragent en disant que " même les Hommes ont échoué, qu'en sera-t-il de la des femmes"

- Le manque de soutien de la part des épous. Quant une femme se lance en politique, certain épous au Burundi, surtout en milieu rural, pensent que s'est une occasion pour qu'elle se lance dans la prostitution.

- les lacunes liées au niveau très bas de l'alphabétisation.

- la pauvreté. Comme le patrimoine et les bien familliaux son souvent gérés par le marie dans la plus part des menages Burundais, la femme n'est pas libre dans ses mouvement faute de moyens.    

Les conventions et les traités internationaux qui ont été ratifiés par la plupart des pays dans le monde  sont d'accord pour admettre que "Tous les hommes sont égaux en mérite et en dignité. Tous les hommes jouissent des mêmes droits et ont droit à la même protection de la loi. Nul ne peut être exclu de la vie sociale, économique ou politique du fait de sa race, de sa langue, de sa religion, de son sexe ou de se origine ethnique". C'est donc dire que tout citoyen d'un pays, homme ou femme a le droit d'élire et de se faire élire.

Mais cela n'est pas toujours le cas dans plusieurs pays. Les femmes rencontrent des barrières à la participation politique. Or, ce qui est étonnant, c'est que au moment de l'enrôlement des électeurs, les femmes prennent le devant sur les hommes. Par exemple au BURUNDI, pendant les échéances électorales de 2010, sur un total de 3 554 736 électeurs inscrits au rôle au niveau national, 1 834 987 sont des femmes et 1 723 749 hommes, soit une différence de 111 238 d'électeurs.

Les raisons qui empêchent les femmes à la participation politique des femmes sont les suivantes:

1. Les coutumes et les mœurs d'un pays selon lesquelles les femmes doivent s'occuper des travaux ménagers seulement; 

2. Les maris qui ne soutiennent pas leurs femmes et qui n'acceptent pas que leurs femmes se fassent élire aux différents organes décisionnels de leurs pays;

3. Dans certains pays surtout musulmans, les législations nationales empêchent les femmes à la participation politique. Par exemple, les pays où la Constitution nationale est basée sur la religion "la charia";

4. Les femmes elles-mêmes se sous-estiment mutuellement. Même une femme qui ose se faire élire, les autres femmes ne votent pas en sa faveur.

5. Le non accès à l'information et l'analphabétisme : Dans certains pays surtout africains, les citoyens n'ont pas accès à l'information et ou sont analphabètes pour connaître le degré de la participation politique des femmes dans les pays développés.

6. Dans certains pays, les distances souvent longues à parcourir pour arriver aux bureaux de vote ne favorisent pas les femmes.

7. Le complexe d'infériorité reconnue aux femmes.

Pour ma part, certaines barrières seraient inhérentes à la nature même de la femme, d'autres à l'ignorance et d'autres seraient conséquentes aux exigences de certaines sociétés.

Ainsi alors les éléments que personnellement je considère comme barrières à l'inscription des femmes au rôle d'électrices et à leur participation active à la vie politique sont les suivants:

- Charges domestiques

- Manque de confiance et d'estime de soi

- Certaines femmes ignorent qu'elles sont des actrices politiques

- Soumission religieuse et/ou socio-culturelle de la femme

- Perception négative de la femme politicienne

- Certaines femmes ne s'approprient pas de leur droit de citoyenne

  Je souhaite que ma contribution puisse vous être utile

               Bien à vous; Merci!

la mentalité burundaise traditionnelle se rapportait au stéréotype lié au genre.La répartition des tâche se faisait suivant le sexe.la répartition des taches se faisait suivant le sexe; Les femmes s'occupaient des travaux champêtres et domestiques, tandis que les hommes étaient censés capables d'accomplir tous les travaux et faire la politique; La femme était considérée incapable de tenir des discours devant le public d'une part, l'interdiction de se faire élire par son mari d'autre part, de peur d'être dominé dans son foyer; La volonté politique basée sur le quota 30% des femmes dans les instances du pays, au lieu de donner l'accès égal au même titre que les hommes. Les femmes elles mêmes manifestent le complexe d'infériorité face aux hommes.

This reply is posted on behalf of Ochana Patrick, member of the Practitioners' Network.

Many people have already written about this sensitive topic. But let me add the following:

The rigorous processes of registration is also one of the barriers to women registration. Whether a lady is a working class or not, she will have more domestic chores than a man. Since the registration is always a long tedious processes involving lining for hours, ladies tends to abundant the activities so as to go and handle their domestic concern.

Requirements for registration also deter women from registering. Questions like your age, parents, local area councilor or authorities and others are a turn off for women, particularly in urban areas where most people do not know the answers  to these questions. Moreover some are born in town without clear origin.

The constant nature of peoples movement in search of greener pastures or shifting residential, particularly in urban places is a factor contributing to low women registration. For example a woman who is not certain of the duration that she or her family will stay in a place will shun registration because she will think its a wastes of time since by the time of voting, she will have moved to another location where she will not be in position to come back at the place of registration for voting.

Failure to produce accurate information about a voters particulars in the register is also a deterrent for women registration. For example, if a rough copy of the register brought back for checking has multiple errors such as wrong spelling of names, mismatched photos, wrong age, wrong polling station of choice and others, it discourages others from participating in the subsequent voters registration activities.

Low numbers of women in leadership is also another factor. Its a fact that worldwide, the number of women in political leadership in any democracy is very meager compared to men. In developing countries, because high level of illiteracy coupled with low level of voters sensitization, women tend to think that elections are men issues since women are not in the helm of political leadership. This discourages women from registering.

Election violence is also a deterrent for women's participation in voter registration. When election violence erupts either before, during or after elections, women who are always vulnerable to such violence and who feels so much for the kids would shy away from the cycle of registration with the view that the process will again bring violence which put them and their children in a disadvantaged position.

Thanks ,

Ochana Patrick (Uganda).

Voter Registration is such a fundamental process in realizing eligible voter rights. The stereotyping of women can be traced through history, with roots being in religious traditions and diverse cultural histories

Many ancient texts, from the Bible to the Koran, contain references to women being obedient or submissive to men. What women can and can not do, how they are to speak, stand and even what they were to wear

In very primitive cultures (such as the Nomadic tribes of Africa) there is commonly a social group which places men at the "head" as hunters and gatherers, with the women far beneath them on the social ladder.

Those who believe that women leaders will bring peace during times of war, care more about:-

• ·         children's issues,
• ·         be more compassionate toward the poor and needy are also
• ·         perpetuating stereotypes about women in leadership roles..

Religious, cultural and environmental factors all contribute, in some way, to the stereotyping of women in leadership roles.

Kenya people have tried to address this issue by stemming from the Constitution

Some of the barriers to women’s voter registration are as relates to my country are:

1.     Culture/Traditions: In some part of the north in my country, there is Culture that some women in Pudah cannot be seen by any other person except their husbands, in such cases, they are not allowed to come out publicly.

2.     Illiteracy:  When a woman is illiterate, she finds it difficult to follow what is happening or relate freely.  She prefers to mind her kitchen and her children than come to register.

3.     Fear of violence: fear that violence could start in a registration centre.  So she prefers to stay alone.

4.     Proximity of the voting centre’s: If the registration centre is not close to her, she may not go.

5.     Poverty: this is a major barrier because she would rather prefer going to look for food for her household than going to register

6.     When the government of the day is not favourable to women, is not sensitive to women issues amongst other things.

The most predominant of all the obstacles especially in Africa is religion and culture. Information and education aspects in recent times have also been considered a major factor which has attracted concerns. It is important to add that when governments institute policies or laws that are not women friendly especially policies or laws on whether registration is compulsory or voluntary, where polling centers should be located, the period of registration etc this affect voter registration turnouts for women. It sounds funny when a local chief says "encouraging women to register will encourage them to stand as candidates hence reducing the chances of men who are all members of his traditional council to stand and win". To him if few women register, the likelihood for more of his council members to stand and win is more.

ouattara hadiatou

Les femmes ont longtemps été considérées comme des mobilisatrices. Les femmes sont invitées à s’impliquer dans les processus électoraux. Cette politique d’implication des femmes reste un facteur privilégié par les organismes internationaux avec leur politique du genre. Cependant nombre d’obstacles s’érigent  lors de l’enregistrement des électeurs femmes à savoir :

-          L’analphabétisme (ce facteur reste une tare à l’inscription des femmes auquel l’on devait apporter un peu plus de sensibilisation. Disons élaborer des sensibilisations accrue en vu d’obtenir le résultat attendu).

-          L’environnement (qu’il soit rural ou citadin, relève de concession à faire pour atteindre les cibles femmes. ces concessions sont entre autre des mesures appropriées aux citadines travailleuses, aux citadines aux foyers et aux citadines commerçantes, un rapprochement des sites d’enrôlements de leurs résidences.  En ce qui concerne les femmes en milieu rural il serait impératif de mener une politique de communication accrue régie d’une sensibilisation constante en vue d’atteindre les objectifs assignes)

-          travaux domestiques restent un frein à l’enregistrement des électeurs femmes.

-          Le mariage est aussi un frein à l’enregistrement des femmes car sous nos tropiques, la femme reste un être inférieur qui se détermine selon le bon vouloir de son homme. Dans certaines zones l’homme est le maître des documents administratifs de toute la famille et toute activité reste soumise à son bon vouloir.

-          La culture aussi est un facteur déterminant  car dans certaines religions ; la femme doit restée voilée, ce qui est un frein à son enregistrement.

Les facteurs pouvant être un frein à l’enregistrement des femmes sont nombreux, mais ce qui est primordial c’est le fait de pouvoir  mener des actions ponctuelles et constantes. En cote d’ivoire en ce qui concerne les femmes l’objectif a été atteint pour les élections passées en termes d’enregistrement des femmes vu que la liste électorale comportait plus de femmes que d’hommes.

Obstacles to women participation in voter registration process:

1. Time: women can not withstand the long queues that is common during voter registration exercise in most African Countries. In most cases voter registration kits are few and time scheduled for the exercise is also limited. Women would prefer to attend to more urgent reproductive roles.
2. Sensitization: Women are not adequately sensitized on voter registration exercise and timing. In developing countries like Uganda, women access to voter sensitization  materials and messages is limited, while men tend to gain more access to the same. 
3. Requirement for registration: women lack  or are shy to present some of the requirements. Biometric Registration requires that one should append a signature. This may not go down well with uneducated women. Also in Uganda, one is required to remove  headgear when taking photographs this scares away nuns, Muslims and older women. The other requirements related to identification documents that most rural women lack.

Thanks 

 

Cyprain Ogwang

Kampala, Uganda

Obstacles to women participation in voter registration process:

1. Time: women can not withstand the long queues that is common during voter registration exercise in most African Countries. In most cases voter registration kits are few and time scheduled for the exercise is also limited. Women would prefer to attend to more urgent reproductive roles.
2. Sensitization: Women are not adequately sensitized on voter registration exercise and timing. In developing countries like Uganda, women access to voter sensitization  materials and messages is limited, while men tend to gain more access to the same. 
3. Requirement for registration: women lack  or are shy to present some of the requirements. Biometric Registration requires that one should append a signature. This may not go down well with uneducated women. Also in Uganda, one is required to remove  headgear when taking photographs this scares away nuns, Muslims and older women. The other requirements related to identification documents that most rural women lack.

Thanks 

 

Cyprain Ogwang

Kampala, Uganda

The overwhelming response to the question is amazing. It beyond doubt proves the importance of the topic in the eyes of the facilitators across the world. All the reasons I had in mind have been covered by one contributor or the other. However, I will take up a few important ones.

1. All countries who are signatories of CEDAW need to create conditions for 100% registration of women. The voter ID card may be made compulsory for many government benefits. Scholarship schemes for girls in some Indian states has meant very large registration of girls in schools - thus gender based concessions can help. Village/ municipal and district council elections in India have 30 to 50% reservation in states and that has changed the shape of things in women registration. There can be many such interventions by governments if the governments are serious to implement CEDAW.

2. Religion is stated to be another culprit. I find people do get identification documents - passport and visa - for foreign travels and pilgrims etc. If these travel documents are issued to those who have voter ID, it will help. Moreover, if taking photo is allowed in getting passport, why it cannot be allowed for voter ID.  I think a focused voter education will go a long way. Women photographers may be engaged as was done in Afghanistan recently.

3. Household responsibilities are the other reason. That is true and that is why access of women needs to be improved. A separate queue for women for registration, registration specially for women closer to their homes by special registration centres only for women.

4. Women can beat men hands down in multi-tasking.  The only thing that they should be convinced of its advantages. They have in-laws and husband to discourage them but have children to support them. Once they are convinced of the advantages of registration, they will have their way.

The best strategy will be to create value of registration in the eyes of women.

La barrière pour les femmes d'élire et de se faire élire, chez nous au Burundi, est la culture. La femme en général est considérée comme une personne qui est faible physiquement.Cette considération sociale la décourage pour se lancer en compétition avec les hommes.