Family and the ballot: the impact of loved ones on women’s electoral participation during violent elections

Electoral violence remains a persistent feature of electoral conduct in Nigeria, with gendered implications for political participation. Existing research documents that men and women experience electoral violence differently, with women’s participation influenced by household and family dynamics. This research examines how family prevention, confidence in political participation and exposure to violence influence women’s likelihood of voting in violent elections. It employs a quantitative survey design, drawing on data collected from 791 respondents. This is analysed using an ordinary least squares regression model to assess the relationship between family restrictions, women’s confidence and voting behaviour during violent elections. The findings indicate that familial prevention from voting is negatively associated with women’s likelihood of participating, whereas confidence in participation is positively associated. Results highlight how electoral violence operates beyond physical threats to include household-level and psychological constraints. This research contributes to the existing literature on how family dynamics shape women’s electoral behaviour in Nigeria.