Polling station officials were seen in traditional Papuan attire representing the Wamena and Nafri cultures, as well as in traditional dress from outside the province, such as Toraja and Makassar in South Sulawesi. 

“This was the result of an agreement among the residents of our area where this TPS is located, as a way to show our enthusiasm for participating in the gubernatorial election,” Awiyo subdistrict head Karel Hanasbey said on Wednesday.

Karel said the local people wanted to mark the election in this way, because it only happened once every five years and they wanted to leave behind a beautiful memory in organizing the event.

He added that TPS 005 was also located on a special site where Japanese troops landed at Abe Beach during World War II.

Diversity: Election officials in traditional dress from across the country pose for a group photo on June 27 at polling station TPS 005 in Awiyo subdistrict, Abepura district, Jayapura. (JP/Nethy Dharma Somba)

“I voted for a candidate that I believe is capable of making the people proper for the next five years,” said voter Yusuf Yarangga.

Voters had gathered at TPS 005 since 8 a.m. local time, and 532 voters had cast their votes at the polling station.

The two pairs competing in the Papua gubernatorial election are Lukas Enembe-Klemen Tinal and John Wempi Wetipo-Habel Melkias Suwae.

A total of 3,411,217 voters cast their ballots today at 9,222 polling stations in 5,498 subdistricts and 560 districts across Papua. (swa/ebf)