The trends recorded following the gender analysis of the latest elections are positive, but also signal that there is need for more efforts. “The Central Electoral Commission will strive to balance the proportion of women and men engaged in elections as polling officials, candidates, and observers. I mean also the importance of legal aspects, as well as the social ones and the education of the population with voting rights and of those who will enjoy soon such rights when they turn 18,” said CEC Chairperson Dorin Cimil.
The gender analysis of the 2020 presidential elections presented today shows that during the 2020 presidential elections, round I, 53.42% of people present at polls (1,364,597) were women. 1,650,131 voters participated in the second round of elections, out of which 53.8% were women. The voters’ turnout rate in the second round reached 47% in the rural area (by 2% more than in the first round), and women made up over 53% of all people who cast their votes. The voters’ turnout in the urban area reached 72.8% (by 16.4% more than in first round) out of each more than 54% were women. IPN reports.
The most active and large group of voters in the first round was the 56-70-year-old, whose turnout reached almost 65% in the respective age group, accounting for slightly over 30% of the total number of people present at polls. Instead, in Round II, the voters aged 26 to 40 years were the most numerous, making up almost one third (28.7%) of the total number of people who had taken part in the vote. More women vote and are in leadership positions of the electoral bodies.
The analysis was conducted by the Central Electoral Commission and UNDP Moldova, with the support of USAID Moldova. Andrea Cuzyova, UNDP Moldova Deputy Resident Representative, said the joint efforts to increase participation of women and men in electoral and decision-making processes is a step forward, in line with UNDP’s commitment to leave no one behind and empower girls and women. “During last two years, almost 200 thousand women throughout Moldova strengthened the knowledge in the area of elections, democratic processes and civic engagement,” stated Andrea Cuzyova.
Six male candidates and two female candidates ran in the presidential elections of 2020, as against five male candidates and four female candidates in the elections of 2016. The 2020 runoff vote involved a male candidate (Igor Dodon) and a female candidate (Maia Sandu). The gender component of the initiative groups that supported the electoral contenders was dominated by men, even in the case of the two female candidates.
