Additionally, it should be noted that the practice of “family voting” not only violates the secret suffrage of women, it may also reduce the election of female candidates to parliament. Family voting means a male family member accompanying one or more women relatives into a polling booth, family groups voting together, or a male family member voting on behalf of one or more women relatives (Rec(2003)3, Explanatory memorandum II B, p. 22). Though prohibited by law, family-voting is still tolerated in a number of countries (CDL-AD(2006)018, 146). However, it is by no means acceptable. Thus, the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers recommends that the governments of member states ensure that women and men can exercise their individual rights and, to this end, take all necessary measures to eliminate the practice of family voting (Rec(2003)3).