Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T14:40:43.712Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Do Parties and Voters Counteract Quota Regulations? The Impact of Legislative Gender Quotas on Ballot Ranking and Preference Voting in Poland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2019

Adam Gendźwiłł Open the ORCID record for Adam Gendźwiłł [Opens in a new window]  and
Tomasz Żółtak
Adam Gendźwiłł
Affiliation:
University of Warsaw
Tomasz Żółtak
Affiliation:
Educational Research Institute, Warsaw
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article investigates how the introduction of gender quotas affected female representation in an open-list proportional representation system. Based on the Polish parliamentary elections of 2005, 2007, 2011, and 2015, it attempts to explain the gap between the share of female candidates and the share of female legislators. The authors estimate changes in individual electoral chances using logistic regression. Subsequently, counterfactual reasoning is applied to display the results in the metrics of seat shares. The analyses of candidate-level data demonstrate that after the introduction of quotas, significantly more women ran for office, but parties and voters, on average, changed their preferences to the disadvantage of female candidates, even when incumbency and previous electoral experience were controlled. The article demonstrates that women benefited from the introduction of quotas, but not right away. The desired effect of gender quotas (an increase in female legislative representation) was mitigated mainly by the unequal distribution of “electoral capital” among candidates of both genders. The impact of this factor was moderated by ballot ranking patterns. Once women acquire more electoral capital, the role of party elites’ negative bias in ballot ranking becomes more visible.

Keywords

Gender quotasfemale representationopen-list PR systemballot positionpreference votingPoland
Type
Research Article
Information
Politics & Gender , Volume 16 , Special Issue 1: Special Symposium on Women's Parties , March 2020 , pp. 199 - 229
Copyright
Copyright © The Women and Politics Research Section of the American Political Science Association 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Black, Jerome H., and Erickson, Lynda J.. 2003. “Women Candidates and Voter Bias: Do Women Politicians Need to Be Better?” Electoral Studies 22 (1): 81–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blom-Hansen, Jens, Elklit, Jørgen, Serritzlew, Søren, and Villadsen, Louise Riis. 2016. “Ballot Position and Election Results: Evidence from a Natural Experiment.” Electoral Studies 44 (1): 172–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carey, John M., and Shugart, Matthew Soberg. 1995. “Incentives to Cultivate a Personal Vote: A Rank Ordering of Electoral Formulas.” Electoral Studies 14 (4): 417–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caul, Miki. 1999. “Women's Representation in Parliament: The Role of Political Parties.” Party Politics 5 (1): 79–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crisp, Brian F., Olivella, Santiago, Malecki, Michael, and Sher, Mindy. 2013. “Vote-Earning Strategies in Flexible List Systems: Seats at the Price of Unity.” Electoral Studies 32 (4): 658–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dahlerup, Drude, ed. 2006. Women, Quotas and Politics. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Dahlerup, Drude, ed. 2007. “Electoral Gender Quotas: Between Equality of Opportunity and Equality of Result.” Representation 43 (2): 73–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dubrow, Joshua K. 2011. “The Importance of Party Ideology: Explaining Parliamentarian Support for Political Party Gender Quotas in Eastern Europe.” Party Politics 17 (5): 561–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flis, Jarosław. 2014. Złudzenia wyboru. Społeczne wyobrażenia i instytucjonalne ramy w wyborach Sejmu i Senatu [The illusions of choice: Social expectations and institutional frames in Sejm and Senat elections]. Krakow: Jagiellonian University Press.Google Scholar
Fox, Richard L., and Lawless, Jennifer L.. 2010. “If Only They'd Ask: Gender, Recruitment, and Political Ambition.” Journal of Politics 72 (2): 310–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Franceschet, Susan, and Piscopo, Jennifer M.. 2008. “Gender Quotas and Women's Substantive Representation: Lessons from Argentina.” Politics & Gender 4 (3): 393–425.Google Scholar
Fuszara, Małgorzata, ed. 2013. Kobiety, wybory, polityka [Women, elections, politics]. Warsaw: Institute of Public Affairs, Poland.Google Scholar
Gendźwiłł, Adam, and Marcinkiewicz, Kamil. 2017. “Interventionism of Voters: District Size, Level of Government and the Use of Preference Votes.” Acta Politica. Published online November 1. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41269-017-0069-6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gendźwiłł, Adam, and Raciborski, Jacek. 2014. “Jak głosują wyborcy w warunkach preferencyjnych list wyborczych: Przypadek Polski” [How do voters use preferential vote in a semi-open PR system—The case of Poland]. Decyzje 22: 47–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Giger, Nathalie, Holli, Anne Maria, Lefkofridi, Zoe, and Wass, Hanna. 2014. “The Gender Gap in Same-Gender Voting: The Role of Context.” Electoral Studies 35 (2): 303–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Górecki, Maciej A., and Kukołowicz, Paula. 2014. “Gender Quotas, Candidate Background and the Election of Women: A Paradox of Gender Quotas in Open-List Proportional Representation Systems.” Electoral Studies 36 (1): 65–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gwiazda, Anna. 2015. “Women's Representation and Gender Quotas: The Case of the Polish Parliament.” Democratization 22 (4): 679–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gwiazda, Anna. 2017. “Women in Parliament: Assessing the Effectiveness of Gender Quotas in Poland.” Journal of Legislative Studies 23 (3): 326–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holli, Anne Maria, and Wass, Hanna. 2010. “Gender-Based Voting in the Parliamentary Elections of 2007 in Finland.” European Journal of Political Research 49 (5): 598–630.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Htun, Mala N., and Jones, Mark P.. 2002. “Engendering the Right to Participate in Decision-Making: Electoral Quotas and Women's Leadership in Latin America.” In Gender and the Politics of Rights and Democracy in Latin America, eds. Craske, Nikki and Molyneux, Maxine. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 32–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jankowski, Michael, and Marcinkiewicz, Kamil. 2017. “Ineffective and Counterproductive? The Impact of Gender Quotas in Open-List Proportional Representation Systems.” Politics & Gender. Published online December 28. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743923X17000538.Google Scholar
Jones, Mark P., and Navia, Patricio. 1999. “Assessing the Effectiveness of Gender Quotas in Open-List Proportional Representation Electoral Systems.” Social Science Quarterly 80 (2): 341–55.Google Scholar
Kenny, Meryl, and Verge, Tània. 2016. Opening Up the Black Box: Gender and Candidate Selection in a New Era. Government and Opposition 51 (3): 351–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kittelson, Miki Caul, and Schwindt-Bayer, Leslie A.. 2012. The Gendered Effects of Political Institutions: Political Engagement and Participation. New York: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krook, Mona Lena. 2010. Quotas for Women in Politics: Gender and Candidate Selection Reform Worldwide. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Kukołowicz, Paula. 2013. “Do Voters Read Gender? Stereotypes as Voting Cues in Electoral Settings.” Polish Sociological Review 182 (2): 223–38.Google Scholar
Kunovich, Sheri. 2003. “The Representation of Polish and Czech Women in National Politics: Predicting Electoral List Position.” Comparative Politics 35 (3): 273–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kunovich, Sheri. 2012. “Unexpected Winners: The Significance of an Open-List System on Women's Representation in Poland.” Politics & Gender 8 (2): 153–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lovenduski, Joni. 2016. “The Supply and Demand Model of Candidate Selection: Some Reflections.” Government and Opposition 51 (3): 513–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luhiste, Maarja. 2015. “Party Gatekeepers’ Support for Viable Female Candidacy in PR-List Systems.” Politics & Gender 11 (1): 89–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marcinkiewicz, Kamil. 2014. “Electoral Contexts That Assist Voter Coordination: Ballot Position Effects in Poland.” Electoral Studies 33 (1): 322–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matland, Richard E. 1993. “Institutional Variables Affecting Female Representation in National Legislatures: The Case of Norway.” Journal of Politics 55 (3): 737–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matland, Richard E. 1998. “Women's Representation in National Legislatures: Developed and Developing Countries.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 23 (1): 109–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matland, Richard E. 2005. “Enhancing Women's Political Participation: Legislative Recruitment and Electoral Systems” In Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers, rev. ed. eds. Ballington, Julie and Karam, Azza. Stockholm: International IDEA, 93–111.Google Scholar
McElroy, Gail, and Marsh, Michael. 2010. “Candidate Gender and Voter Choice: Analysis from a Multimember Preferential Voting System.” Political Research Quarterly 63 (4): 822–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Millard, Frances 2004. Elections, Parties, and Representation in Post-Communist Europe. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Millard, Frances. 2014. “Not Much Happened: The Impact of Gender Quotas in Poland.” Communist and Post-Communist Studies 47(1): 1–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, Joanne M., and Krosnick, Jon A.. 1998. “The Impact of Candidate Name Order on Election Outcomes.” Public Opinion Quarterly 62(3): 291–330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nanivadekar, Medha. 2006. “Are Quotas a Good Idea? The Indian Experience with Reserved Seats for Women.” Politics & Gender 2 (1): 119–28.Google Scholar
Niven, David 1998. “Party Elites and Women Candidates: The Shape of Bias.” Women & Politics 19 (2): 57–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norris, Pippa. 2006. “The Impact of Electoral Reform on Women's Representation.” Acta Politica 41(2): 197–213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norris, Pippa, and Lovenduski, Joni. 1995. Political Recruitment: Gender, Race and Class in the British Parliament. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Paxton, Pamela, and Hughes, Melanie M.. 2015. Women, Politics, and Power: A Global Perspective. Los Angeles: Pine Forge Press.Google Scholar
Praud, Jocelyne. 2012. “Introduction: Gender Parity and Quotas in European Politics.” West European Politics 35 (2): 286–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schmidt, Gregory D. 2008. “The Election of Women in List PR Systems: Testing the Conventional Wisdom.” Electoral Studies 28 (2): 190–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwindt-Bayer, Leslie A. 2005. “The Incumbency Disadvantage and Women's Election to Legislative Office.” Electoral Studies 24 (2): 227–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwindt-Bayer, Leslie A. 2009. “Making Quotas Work: The Effect of Gender Quota Laws on the Election of Women.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 34 (1): 5–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shabad, Goldie, and Slomczynski, Kazimierz M.. 2002. “The Emergence of Career Politicians in Post-Communist Democracies: Poland and the Czech Republic.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 27 (3): 333–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shugart, Matthew Soberg, Valdini, Melody Ellis, and Suominen, Kati. 2005. “Looking for Locals: Voter Information Demands and Personal Vote-Earning Attributes of Legislators under Proportional Representation.” American Journal of Political Science 49 (2): 437–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siemieńska, Renata. 2005. Płeć—wybory—władza [Gender—elections—power]. Warsaw: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Wyd. Naukowe Scholar.Google Scholar
Sineau, Mariette. 2005. “The French Experience: Institutionalizing Parity.” In Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers, rev. ed. eds. Ballington, Julie and Karam, Azza. Stockholm: International IDEA, 122–31.Google Scholar
Stegmaier, Mary, Tosun, Jale, and Vlachová, Klára. 2014. “Women's Parliamentary Representation in the Czech Republic: Does Preference Voting Matter.” East European Politics and Societies 28 (1): 187–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Szczerbiak, Aleks. 2001. Poles Together? The Emergence and Development of Political Parties in Post-Communist Poland. Budapest: Central European University Press.Google Scholar
Thames, Frank C. 2017. “Understanding the Impact of Electoral Systems on Women's Representation.” Politics & Gender 13 (3): 379–404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thames, Frank C., and Williams, Margaret S.. 2010. “Incentives for Personal Votes and Women's Representation in Legislatures.” Comparative Political Studies 43 (12): 1575–1600.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Verge, Tània. 2015. “The Gender Regime of Political Parties: Feedback Effects between Supply and Demand.” Politics & Gender 11 (4): 754–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wylie, Kristin, and Santos, Pedro dos. 2016. “A Law on Paper Only: Electoral Rules, Parties, and the Persistent Underrepresentation of Women in Brazilian Legislatures.” Politics & Gender 12 (3): 415–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar