1086 more women than men to vote
THE Southern Downs electoral roll closed with 12,419 registered female voters, which is 1086 more than the men.
With such a difference in gender numbers it is natural to assume the ladies might have an influence but Southern Downs candidates and voters are not convinced.
Councillor candidate Julie Kawano said the numbers could have an impact.
"Females tend to identify easier with other females just like males do with other males," Mrs Kawano said.
"Having access to parent rooms and sanitary bins in council bathrooms are issues I have had women approach me about because they are something they deal with every day."
Mayoral candidate Phillip Buddle expressed a similar voting-trend theory to Mrs Kawano.
"I believe that to an extent it will be in the psyche," he said.
"If you are female you might feel inclined to vote for other females but I couldn't be sure about the effect.
"I find that most women have many of the same concerns as men, such as road conditions and rate prices.
"In a representative role you have to look past all boundaries to keep the voters and the issues equal."
Stanthorpe voter and mum-of-three Sandra Ellis said she did not think the extra female voters would drastically alter the election outcome. "I think most of the time women tend to have the same problems as men, like wanting better roads, rate prices and other general things," Mrs Ellis said.
"Then you have families made up of men and women who tend to want the same things as well, so I don't think 1000 extra women will have much of an effect."
