The mechanism of quota in the light of Electoral Code regulations introduced in 2011 Cover Image

Mechanizm kwot w świetle uregulowań Kodeksu wyborczego z 2011 roku
The mechanism of quota in the light of Electoral Code regulations introduced in 2011

Author(s): Paula Wiśniewska
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Electoral systems
Published by: Temida 2
Keywords: women in politics; electoral quota; parity system; electoral list; act of 2011

Summary/Abstract: The article describes the process of introducing the electoral quota system into Polish legislation. This system is one of the most popular instruments for increasing the participation of women in politics. Women are underrepresented in the Polish Parliament with only 23,9% of politicians being female. This situation was supposed to be changed by implementing the electoral quota system, which requires the equal number of 35% male and female candidates in the electoral polls for all parliamentary, district council and county council elections. The first draft of the electoral quota act was the Parity Act, proposed as one of the people’s legislative initiatives in 2009. The article also describes the attempts to increase the required number of 35% male and female candidates by implementing the clause which sets the rule of placing the names of female and male candidates alternately on the electoral polls, the so-called “zip quota”.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 20/A
  • Page Range: 295-304
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: Polish