-EISA reports on women’s political participation
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
After many months of campaigning and overcoming financial and institutional challenges for the successful candidates there is relief that the 10 October elections have concluded. Regrettably, for many women candidates, the results of the 2023 elections were not kind. The results reflect that half of the total registered women did not vote their fellow women.
At the 2023 voter registration stage, 1,237,257 women registered on the voters’ roll, slightly less than half the total registered voters. The data from the voter registration shows that in the high population counties such as Nimba, Bong, and Montserrado, more women were registered than men. At the Senatorial level, there were seven women out of the 100 candidates and two female presidential candidates.
It can be recalled, the period before the elections also marked the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NEC and political parties to promote women’s political participation by ensuring not less than 30% of women on party tickets. After the candidate nominations were finalized, only two political parties met this target.
From the analytical statistics provided by the national elections commission, elected females candidates from the October 10, polls dwindle by three in the proceeding elections of 2017. However, the data from NEC shows that new female lawmakers are now representing some of the most traditional counties in Liberia such as Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Cape Mount, Bong, and Lofa.
Although three female incumbents were defeated, one senator was gained, accounting for a total of three females in the Senate presently.
Meanwhile, in Montserrado, the largest county with seventeen
districts, only one district was won by a female candidate. So, whilst the numbers may appear to be low, women are being represented in strategic counties.
The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, on Tuesday November 6, 2023 in a communication revealed that women representation by political party
despite the signing of the 30% quota MOU, only
two parties achieved this target.
EISA in their report further revealed that out of the total of political parties who participated in October 10 elections,
six parties did not nominate any women candidates at all while 22%
of registered independent candidates were
women.
With one female presidential candidate also registered as an independent candidate. An action which ESIA described as dispelling the myth that lack of access to financial resources
is one of the main reasons why women do not
participate in politics.
Stating that running as an independent
candidate is more expensive than running on a party ticket.
“To contest elections costs $2,500 for presidential
candidates, USD 750 for Senators, and USD 500 for House of Representative candidates.
Candidates (whether independent or on party ticket) need to show a bank balance of $10,000. In contrast, although 80% of independent aspirants were men, in most cases there was some level of party affiliation and support, whereas independent female candidates appeared to be less likely to receive any support at all from parties even if they were affiliated.” EISA reported.
In furtherance, EISA added that their interviews with several male candidates also revealed that political parties were prepared to pay registration fees for
aspirants which made registering on a party ticket a more viable option.
Adding that besides the financial aspect, statistics also show that female candidates were less likely to win as independent candidates.
As only one of the successful representative candidates ran on an independent ticket which confirmed the common perception that parties provide other forms of support to candidates
and provide a ready-made base of supporters, especially to new candidates.
EISA continued by asserting that female independent candidates may also be more susceptible to harassment, as seen in the case of Wokie Dolo.
Additionally, the elections observers further asserted that there seemed to be no correlation between political parties with female standard-bearers
and the number of female candidates nominated.
“None of the three female standard bearers achieved the 30% quota which raises questions about the roles and expectations around female candidates.”
“Are women expected to attract more women voters, simply because they are women? At one presidential debate held in Montserrado before the elections, EISA observed that the only female presidential
aspirant present encouraged women to vote for her because “women could achieve a lot together
.
Unanswered questions
With the number of female independent candidates, what does it mean for the accountability of parties and candidates themselves? With no consequences for parties that do not meet the 30% quota, are there
any other ways through which women’s participation and representation can be enhanced?
Additionally, how are women who constitute half of the registered voters voting? If women are not voting for women as the results suggest, then some work needs to be done by female candidates to attract voters and understand their voting behavior.” …the observers wondered.
In continuation EISA warned that female candidates should not assume that they automatically attract sympathy of female voters or that female candidates would project a more convincing platform for women.
The elections observation body concluded by recommending that:
“To increase women’s chances in future elections, support for candidates needs to be more strategic, based on feedback from voters and their own experiences.
Women have shown confidence in themselves and have not been deterred by barriers imposed by political parties of society.” However, it urged that stakeholders
should now examine the realities of the 30% quota agreement and the loopholes that seem to be working against women.
.
The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) is a continental not-for-profit organization located in Johannesburg, South
Africa, and Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire with field offices in the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Niger, Liberia Chad, and Sudan. EISA has continental and sub-regional programs in the field of elections and democracy throughout Africa.
EISA strives for excellence in the
promotion of credible elections, domestic participation, and the strengthening of political institutions for sustainable democracy in Africa.
About USAID Support to EISA-IEOM to Liberia: The USAID-funded EISA International Election Observation Mission (EISA-IEOM) Activity seeks to enhance the
integrity of the 2023 Liberia Presidential and Legislative elections through the deployment of an independent international election observer mission (EOM)
to monitor, assess and report on all phases of the electoral process by international and regional benchmarks.
The IEOM is implemented in close coordination with the financial support of USAID/Liberia and will complement the efforts of other electoral stakeholders.
