Women welcome idea of separate polling booths

By ZACHERY PER
MORE women will contest the national election in the highland provinces as leaders welcomed the allocation of separate polling booths for female voters.
Women in Politics highlands president Dre Cecelia said more women were expected to contest for seats in the highlands after parliament failed to approve the 22 reserved seats for them.
She also said separate polling booths for women would allow them to cast their votes freely without harassment or intimidation.
“In the elections since independence, women have never been able to vote freely in the highlands.
“And now we really appreciate the idea of separate polling booths. We will push for it,” Cecelia said.“
Martha Kaiun, one of the aspiring candidates in Chimbu province, said the separate polling booths for women was tested during the recent Kundiawa-Gembogl by-election and it worked exceptionally well.
She said women supported the idea to have separate polling booths in all 89 open electorates and 20 provincial seats.
Former Daulo MP Ben Kiage also welcomed the allocation of separate polling booths for women.
He said it would provide them a greater opportunity to be elected.
“The initiative by the Electoral Commission to provide separate polling booths for women will provide an opportunity for them to easily get elected by the women themselves,” Kiage said.