Candidate selection is a key element in the link between electoral systems and political parties. Selection is necessary for candidates to access elective political office, where Brazilian women are still underrepresented. This article examines Brazilian women's presence in electoral contests, constructing a model to explain the preliminary candidate selection process, one of the parties' main roles. The article then outlines the steps for accessing office, from voter to party member to candidate, focusing on candidacies in the 1998 and 2002 Brazilian elections and the evolution in women's candidacies since 1946.
political parties; party affiliation; women's representation; access to political office
