Research Library

New Hampshire leads on women in Congress but lags in its legislature. Our recommendations build on its multi-seat districts to close the gap statewide.

As West Virginia phased out multi-member, or multi-seat, districts, women's share of the House of Delegates fell from 22% to 12%. See what the data shows.

More seats, more women. Multi-member, or multi-seat, districts are a proven solution to the winner-take-all barriers women face in politics.

RepresentWomen champions legislative modernization because representation doesn't end when a woman wins her seat. Getting more women elected is only half the goal — the other half is building legislatures where they can actually serve, stay, and lead once they're there. Outdated pay structures, rigid schedules, and inaccessible workplaces push women out of office even after they've won it. Modernization is how we make representation durable, not just a headline on election night.

Legislative pay isn't a footnote to women's representation. It's one of the barriers standing in the way, and one of the easiest to fix.

How using a ranked ballot in a multi-seat district removes the structural ceiling on women's representation in Congress.

Our Index is the leading national measure of women's representation across all 50 states at every level of government, providing data and insights on regional, partisan, and state-specific trends. RepresentWomen, our partners, policymakers, and advocates across the country are using the Index to make strategic decisions on policy and structural solutions to close the representation gap.

RepresentWomen's country rankings of women's representation in national lower house legislatures, showing how most top-ranked nations use proportional voting systems and why the U.S. needs electoral reform.

This snapshot displays women's political representation in the 38 OECD countries. The columns show which voting system is used, the subcategory of that voting system, and if gender quotas are used.

RepresentWomen's interactive international dashboard tracking women's representation, voting systems, gender quotas, and cabinet data across countries.

RepresentWomen works to increase women's representation in elected office and advocates for systemic reforms to the recruitment process, voting systems, and legislative practices so that more women run, win, serve, and lead.

RepresentWomen works to increase women's representation in elected office and advocates for systemic reforms to the recruitment process, voting systems, and legislative practices so that more women run, win, serve, and lead.

How did Portland achieve its first gender-balanced and racially diverse city council in 2024? RepresentWomen’s new report shows how proportional ranked choice voting, public financing, council expansion, and community partnerships worked together to make it happen.

Learn how proportional ranked choice voting is leveling the playing field and expanding opportunities for women leaders.

Discover how ranked choice voting empowers voters, reduces barriers for women candidates, and creates fairer, more representative elections.

Learn about how Proportional Ranked Choice Voting is leveling the playing field and expanding opportunities for women leaders.

RepresentWomen works to increase women's representation in elected office and advocates for systemic reforms to the recruitment process, voting systems, and legislative practices so that more women run, win, serve, and lead.

RepresentWomen’s Gender Parity Index tracks women’s political representation in all 50 states, ranking each state by progress toward gender-balanced governance. Explore interactive maps, past reports, key findings, and solutions to close the gender gap in U.S. politics.