http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MjE2MDU3MjA0
Women deserve to be MPs: voters Published Date: May 17, 2009 By Nisreen Zahreddine and Sahar Moussa, Staff Writer KUWAIT: "Of course I'm going to vote for women - and I really hope that women can make it this time," said Bahja with a large smile on her face. The 70-year-old woman was stoic and uncomplaining, queuing in a long line of voters, all of whom were waiting to enter the voting booth in Salmiya yesterday. The first constituency which is known for its strong Shiite presence, witnessed a slow trickle of voters during the morning times, although the female voters' polling station seemed busier. The first constituency houses 69,132 voters (of them 31,613 males and 37,519 females) many of whom voted yesterday at 16 polling stations spread across eight areas: Dasmah, Dahiya, Shaab, Bayan, Mishref, Salmiya, Salwa and Rumaithiya. Around 120 of the 832 voters expected to vote in the polling station set up in the main assembly hall in Salmiya's Anjafa Elementary School had voted by 9:30 am, but councilors there expected a heavy turnout in the afternoon period. Outside the Salmiya Secondary School for Girls, a lot of young supporters were gathered, distributing leaflets for their candidates, as well as offering water, juice and food to the voters in order to make the hot weather more tolerable for those turning out to cast their votes. Two young female canvassers for candidate Mikhlid Al-Azmi were enthusiastic about his chances, insisting that the Kuwait Times take a photo of them under the sun parasol shading them outside the school. The Salwa and Rumaithiya polling stations witnessed a heavy turnout of both men and women voters. "I voted for Massouma and Fatima Al-Abdali because I believe women deserve to be MPs, if they are spared from conspiracies," said one female voter while forming an imaginary beard shape with her hands, signifying Salafist MPs who have resolutely opposed female lawmakers. She said that the presence of women in the National Assembly would prevent the tense, unpleasant environment that has prevailed there and reduce the use of bad language, encouraging respectable language to be used instead. At the Um-Salim Al-Ansariya Intermediate School for Girls, Hoda Al-Ajmi stopped these reporters saying: "I believe that this election process is a game - the government will dissolve or permit the assembly according to its will; and I'm only here because I still have a slight hope for change." She asserted that the male and female members of Kuwaiti society, especially in her constituency, are still not ready to accept female MPs. She went on to add that some women are less likely to vote unless their hu sbands have given them a lead. Members of tribal blocs were expected to turn out to vote in large numbers later in the afternoon between 6 and 8 pm nearer the polls' closing time. What has been a trend, some explained, featured trading votes between candidates, with blocs coordinating and supporting their favored candidates to reach a certain prearranged balanced between them. This could also explain the widespread rush to vote in the last two hours. The first constituency polls were counted at Sayed Mohammad Hassan Al-Moussawi Elementary School for Boys in the Rumaithiya area yesterday. Who are the winners and the losers remains to be seen today. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
