In Brazil, 8.4 thousand of the 27.4 thousand candidates are women

Female candidacies in the coming general elections in Brazil total 30.7%—8,435 of the total 27,485 registrations submitted to the country’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

Under the law, 30% of candidacies in each party must be female. In 2014, women added up to 8.1 thousand, 31.1% of hopefuls. Despite the slight increase, political analysts see the percentage registered as positive and notice changes in the way female voters must choose their candidates.

According to official data, most female candidates identify themselves as white (51.7%) and brown (33.4%). The majority is aged 45 to 49 and hold a university degree. The proportion of married and single women is virtually the same—40%.

Most women (61.7%) are running for a post as state deputy, whereas 30% vie for a position as federal deputy. The remaining percentage is formed by women attempting to become senator, state governor, and two are presidential hopefuls—Marina Silva, of the Rede party, and Vera Lúcia, of the Unified Workers' Socialist Party, the PSTU.

Political scientist Valdir Pucci told Agência Brasil that no significant change was seen in the number of candidacies compared to the last general elections, held in 2014. He believes that this time political parties believe that the female electorate will prefer to vote for women for both federal and state deputy.

In his view, women may also symbolize a sentiment of a new beginning in politics. “Women are not seen by electors as part of traditional, corrupt politics. They are usually regarded as a sign of renovation,” he argued.

Visibility

Lúcio Rennó, political scientist at the University of Brasília (UnB), says that women gain more visibility because they are organized and play an active role in the defense of a number of causes, like the fight against abusive relationships and feminicide.

He complimented the mandatory 30% quota earmarked in the electoral fund for women—a resolution passed by the Electoral Court in May this year. Rennó described it as a special achievement, as it shows how electoral authorities are paying heed to the changes and urges of society.

The resolution is usually criticized, however, as no rules have been imposed on the distribution of resources among the female candidates. This year, the fund is to hand out $470 million to political parties, which in turn are allowed to concentrate the funds on just a few candidates, leaving most underserved.