The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
While many in the city greeted the day with apathy, legions of volunteers rose early Wednesday to ensure the smooth running of Jakarta's first-ever direct gubernatorial election.
Ismu Patmantoro, 50, a dedicated neighborhood unit head, was appointed by the Kenari subdistrict office to lead a mobile polling booth volunteer team at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta.
""I was happy (about being appointed) because I got the chance to contribute to the success of the election,"" the father of two said. ""I was told that I was chosen to lead the team because I was considered to be a neutral figure able to deal with people's quirks.""
The nine-member team, which was assigned to collect the votes of hospitalized patients unable to cast votes on their own, made their rounds across the 4-hectare hospital.
The volunteers had to race against time to cover the site, rushing from one point to the other carrying a ballot box, ink, ballot papers and all the other polling paraphernalia.
""We reached the hospital at 5:30 in the morning in order to prepare for this big day,"" Ismu said. ""It's a tiring job, but as aspiring good citizens, we wanted to contribute to running the election by helping these patients.""
Unlike other polling stations around the city, the hospital booth did not come with a list of voters, meaning the team had to ask every patient if they were eligible to vote.
At the burns unit, one of volunteers had to quickly don a surgical gown and mask to enter to check for voters, with the rest of the volunteer team waited outside.
He returned empty handed after a few minutes and the team rushed to the next ward.
At the close of voting at 1 p.m., the team expressed satisfaction with their job, despite a low voter turnout, sweat and shortness of breath.
Ismu's team were not the only ones putting in extra effort for polling day.
Andika Pancawati, 22, and Ukar Sukarya, 35, sacrificed their holidays to serve as election observers, for Adang Daradjatun and Fauzi Bowo respectively, at the Cipinang Narcotics Penitentiary in East Jakarta.
Almost 7,000 inmates in the city's five prisons, including 1,200 inmates in Cipinang Narcotics Penitentiary, cast their ballots in the election.
""We're making sure that none of the voters in this facility cast their votes twice and that there are no ghost voters,"" Andika said.
""I volunteered to be an observer after being told the position was open,"" she said.
Andika said she was apprehensive at first at the thought of volunteering at a prison, but put her fears aside for the sake of public service.
""I felt responsible for helping out fellow members of my community and I thought this would be a good opportunity to show that we care for the inmates.""
Ukar also had his initial worries, but was able to shed his concerns after visiting the prison.
""It's not as bad as I thought it would be. The poll in here is actually far more orderly and well-coordinated than the polls out there."" (09)
