Arunachal polls: West Siang leads pink booth initiative to boost female participation

Guwahati: The State Election Commission of Arunachal Pradesh began polling for Panchayat and Municipal elections on December 15 across all 27 districts, including the capital region, with voting starting at 7 a.m.

West Siang district has received particular attention as officials implement women-centric “Pink Polling Stations” to boost female participation.

Part of the 8A Kamba Zilla Parishad segment in the 27 Liromoba constituency, Karbak Boyor village has a dedicated Pink Polling Station.

These booths, run entirely by women staff including polling officers and security personnel, aim to create a secure and supportive environment for women voters.

Across the state, 245 Zilla Parishad Member (ZPM) seats are being contested.

59 seats of these were elected uncontested, while the remaining 186 seats, involving 439 candidates, went to the polls today.

In urban local body elections, the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) has 20 seats, with four uncontested and 16 contested by 39 candidates.

The Pasighat Municipal Council (PMC) is conducting elections for all eight seats, with 21 candidates vying for the positions.

The Pink Booth initiative, launched by the Election Commission of India (ECI), aims to encourage women voters and empower them by giving them full responsibility for managing polling operations.

These booths also provide voter-friendly facilities such as separate waiting areas, creches, and selfie points to enhance the voting experience.

Vote counting is scheduled for December 20, 2025.