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Votes for Women: Electoral Systems and Support for Female Candidates

Author

Listed:
  • Sona N. Golder

    (Penn State - Pennsylvania State University [State College, PA] - Penn State System)

  • Laura B. Stephenson

    (UWO - Western University [Ontario])

  • Karine van Der Straeten

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - Comue de Toulouse - Communauté d'universités et établissements de Toulouse - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • André Blais

    (UdeM - Université de Montréal)

  • Damien Bol

    (UdeM - Université de Montréal)

  • Philipp Harfst

    (King‘s College London)

  • Jean-François Laslier

    (PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

Abstract

It is a well-established finding that proportional representation (PR) electoral systems are associated with greater legislative representation for women than single member systems. However, the degree to which different types of PR rules affect voting for female candidates has not been fully explored. The existing literature is also hampered by a reliance on cross-national data in which individual vote preferences and electoral system features are endogenous. In this study, we draw upon an experiment conducted during the 2014 European Parliament (EP) elections to isolate the effects of different PR electoral systems. Participants in the experiment were given the opportunity to vote for real EP candidates in three different electoral systems: closed list, open list, and open list with panachage and cumulation. Because voter preferences can be held constant across the three different votes, we can evaluate the extent to which female candidates were more or less advantaged by the electoral system itself. We find that voters, regardless of their gender, support female candidates, and that this support is stronger under open electoral rules. It is a well-established finding that proportional representation (PR) electoral systems are associated with greater legislative representation for women than single member systems. However, the degree to which different types of PR rules affect voting for female candidates has not been fully explored. The existing literature is also hampered by a reliance on cross-national data in which individual vote preferences and electoral system features are endogenous. In this study, we draw upon an experiment conducted during the 2014 European Parliament (EP) elections to isolate the effects of different PR electoral systems. Participants in the experiment were given the opportunity to vote for real EP candidates in three different electoral systems: closed list, open list, and open list with panachage and cumulation. Because voter preferences can be held constant across the three different votes, we can evaluate the extent to which female candidates were more or less advantaged by the electoral system itself. We find that voters, regardless of their gender, support female candidates, and that this support is stronger under open electoral rules.

Suggested Citation

  • Sona N. Golder & Laura B. Stephenson & Karine van Der Straeten & André Blais & Damien Bol & Philipp Harfst & Jean-François Laslier, 2017. "Votes for Women: Electoral Systems and Support for Female Candidates," Post-Print halshs-01518271, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01518271
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    Cited by:

    1. Kira Renée Kurz & L. Constantin Wurthmann & Martin Gross, 2025. "The Influence of Age on Citizens’ Preferences for Age‐Related Descriptive Representation," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 13.
    2. Anna-Lena Högenauer, 2025. "Can the European Parliament be a stepping stone into national politics? The gendered career paths of Maltese and Luxembourgish members of the European Parliament," European Union Politics, , vol. 26(1), pages 96-114, March.
    3. Forslund, Eva & Meriläinen, Jaako & Zipfel, Celine, 2025. "Engines of Empowerment: Cattle Tending, the Milking Machine, and Women in Politics," HoSS Working Paper Series 2025-2, Stockholm School of Economics, House of Sustainable Society (HoSS).
    4. Thomas Däubler & Maarja Lühiste & Mihail Chiru, 2025. "Do public attitudes on gender equality affect candidate selection in proportional representation systems? Evidence from European Parliament elections," European Union Politics, , vol. 26(1), pages 45-65, March.
    5. Savio, Giulia, 2024. "Beyond the party push: Gender differences in voters’ persuasion," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    6. Yoshikuni ONO & Hirofumi MIWA & Yuko KASUYA, 2025. "Voting for Gender Balancing? The effect of a multiple-vote system on women’s representation," Discussion papers 25047, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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