1. Towards Inclusivity: Providing equal opportunities for the participation of ALL in electoral processes – the right to vote. International best practices -Diaspora, women, youths, and people living with disabilities and ethnic minorities’ participation in elections.”

2. Obstacles to Women’s Participation
Social and Cultural - stigma and harassment restrictions on women’s interactions with men or with outsiders, need for spousal approval
Lack of education and confidence
Media coverage
Domestic responsibilities including child bearing and child care – affect mobility and time available for political activities
Tradition – conservatism
Financial –Less financial resources than men.
Violence – election related violence, sexual assault

3. Diaspora Distance Location
Lack of information and interaction with stakeholders

4. Obstacles for People living with disabilities
Mobility and Accessibility of election sites (registration centres, polling stations, nomination courts, rally locations)
Visibility
Audibility
Violence
Language - Voter education material, voter information, party information e.g.. manifestoes and ballots,

5. Obstacles to Youth Participation
Disenchantment with the electoral process and political leadership
Lack of Information
Lack of Opportunities – Patriarchy
Violence and Abuse
Stigma
Financial

6. Obstacles for Ethnic Minorities
Location- distance from the centre located in remote areas
Language – voter education and voter information material, party information such as manifestoes
Prejudice

7. Measures to be used Legislation Policy Regulations
Administrative practices
Voluntary measures esp. from political parties leadership
Research
Public education
Documentation for accountability purposes

8. Responsibility Legislature Election Management Body
Civil society organisations
Community based organisations
Law enforcement agencies
Political parties
Media
Judiciary
Democracy Watchdog Organisations (Commissions)

9. Diaspora Legislation –regulatory framework
Quotas – Mozambique has two reserved seats for the diaspora
Out of country registration – South Sudan 2011
In person out of country voting- at embassies egg Mozambique and South Africa or at designated polling locations e.g. South Sudan Referendum (2011)
Absentee Methods such as Postal voting – USA, New Zealand
Proxy voting
Electronic Voting
Social Media and Internet for voter education – South Africa

10. Women
Voluntary Party quotas for women in political party leadership and on candidate lists (Mozambique, South Africa)
Legislated quotas representation in the legislature (Rwanda and Uganda) or in the EMB (Zimbabwe)
Financial support for female candidate (NRM-Uganda)
Capacity building and training for women candidates and after election women legislators (Uganda 2016) Zimbabwe
Online Candidate Nomination (South Africa)
Special voting (South Africa) which include early voting or home visits.
Proxy voting (Ghana 2016)
Door to door campaigning
Separate polling stations for men and women – Afghanistan Pakistan, Ecuador , Argentina
Perpetrators of violence brought to book

11. People living with disabilities
Quotas for representation in legislature (Uganda)
Voter education and information using sign language and braille
Online Candidate Nomination System – South Africa
Voting Materials – Accessible voting machines with video displays and built in braille ballot papers - USA
Tactile ballots (Ghana) and Universal ballot template (South Africa)
Assisted voting –Uganda
Proxy Voting –Ghana /United Kingdom
Special Voting – early voting and home visits (South Africa)
Temporary changes to voting locations for example to enable wheel chair access –using ramps
Technology –mobile apps. (South Africa)

12. Youth
Voluntary Party Quotas for leadership and candidate lists (South Africa- ANC, EFF)
Legislated quotas – Uganda
Policy to target youth for election management – Zanzibar Electoral Commission (Gender and Social Inclusion policy) – INEC and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nigeria
Mobilisation of youth for elections –e.g. South African elections
Training for youth candidates the National Commission for Civic Education (Ghana) training for youth candidates.
Technology – Mobile apps egg. IEC South Africa
Use of Social Media – EMBs, CSOs, Political Parties

13. Ethnic Minorities Voluntary Party Quotas Legislated Quotas
Voter education materials in minority languages
Voter information materials in minority languages

14. Challenges with increasing participation
Use of Temporary Measures -quotas
Tokenism
Resistance and Backlash
Stigma towards beneficiaries of quota systems
Participation as direct candidates is reduced
Residence status of prospective voters
Cost – diaspora voting
Timing –must be completed before election day before end of campaigning
Security –diaspora voting
Electoral integrity –diaspora voting is not easily observable