More women candidates join race

A RECORD 135 women are among the 3,435 candidates nominated to contest the 111 seats in next month’s general election.
Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen said a record number of candidates had been nominated by 4pm last Thursday.
“This is the highest number of
candidates who have been nominated to contest a national election since the first (post-independence) elections in 1977.
“In 2007, a total of 2,759 candidates were nominated while (there were) 2,970 in 2002,” he said.
Trawen said out of the 3,435, a
record number of women – 135 – were nominated, compared to 101 in 2007.
He said the southern region registered the highest number of women candidates of 56, followed by Mamose with 30, highlands 27 and New Guinea Islands 22.
Trawen said Enga was the only province which did not have any female candidate.
The highlands region registered the most nominations with 1,388 candidates followed by southern with 896, Mamose with 824 and New Guinea Islands with 328 candidates.
By provinces, Eastern Highlands has the highest number of candidates with 415 – 406 men and nine women, followed by Chimbu with 344 candidates – 334 men and 10 women.
He said soon after the nominations, the conduct of the candidates’ order of draw was carried out.
Some electorates have already done their “order of draws” or should have it done over the weekend.

Source:
The National, Monday 28th May, 2012
By JEFFREY ELAPA