#GoPink: In Mizoram, Officials Encourage Women To Vote With Special Polling Booths

The state reportedly witnessed a healthy voter turnout with 67 percent.

By: News Desk |
November 29, 2018 2:32 pm

As Mizoram voted to elect its new government on Wednesday, pink polling booths played a significant role in it. The state reportedly witnessed a healthy voter turnout with 67 percent. However, this time officials made special arrangements to encourage women voters to participate.

All the 40 polling stations, managed by women police officials and security personnel, were set-up as ‘pink polling stations’, taking inspiration apparently from a wildflower found in Mizoram, called ‘dingdi’. The word also plays a role in Mizo poetry, used to depict beautiful women.

Women wearing pink coats and sashes were seen standing at these stations. Though women voters outnumber male counterparts by 19,399, their representation in the assembly remains very low.

As per TOI, there were only 15 women candidates out of the total of 209 candidates.

During Karnataka assembly elections held on 12 May, the Election Commission had set up Sakhi/Pink polling booths which was run only by female staff including presiding officers, polling officers, micro observers and security personnel.