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All-female polling station gives homey feeling to voting
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Female officials at the Pujokusuman polling station assist voters in the Yogyakarta mayoral election. The officials were all dressed in traditional clothes. (JP/Bambang Muryanto)
O
fficials at a polling station in Pujokusuman, Yogyakarta city, had a unique way to attract voters as all of its officials were female dressed in traditional attire: black kebaya (Javanese blouse) and batik.
Black was chosen as it did not represent any of the candidates’ campaign colors. The polling station looked homey as it was decorated with flowers and a photo booth with a backdrop that read, “Yay, I voted.”
Such facilities were aimed at attracting residents to cast their votes. There were 372 voters registered for that particular station.
A member of the Yogyakarta General Elections Commision, Sri Surani, said the Pujokusuman polling station was the first polling station that had an all-female staff. This year, there were 794 polling stations and approximately 300,000 registered voters in Yogyakarta city.
“This is like a challenge for women so they can show to the public that they can be part of the elections,” Sri said.
Voters expressed their excitement while casting their votes at the station.
“The polling station is nice because all the officials are beautifully dressed in kebaya,” said Miyatun.
Neighborhood unit head Agung Budi Santoso said at the beginning residents in the community decided to give the opportunity for women to take the lead in the voting process.
“We have been supporting women to do so. It has gone well,” Agung said. (trw)
