What Can Political Parties Do?

Political parties in many states and localities play a significant role in deciding who runs for office - they must be challenged to be deliberate about the number of women candidates they recruit.

Local, state, and national political parties should establish Gender Parity Committees to assess the status of women’s representation and determine targets for the recruitment of women candidates. Pressure from party members may also work to make parties recruit more women candidates and to hold them accountable for their action - or lack of action as the case may be.

An annual report should be prepared by the local or state party on the status of women’s representation in its own leadership, in the number of women candidates, nominees, and general election winners in the most recent election, and its plans to recruit women for upcoming elections.