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KPU aims to boost voter turnout in 2009
Hoping to increase voter turnout at the 2009 election, the General Elections Commission (KPU) is mulling over rescheduling its date to April 8 or 9
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Hoping to increase voter turnout at the 2009 election, the General Elections Commission (KPU) is mulling over rescheduling its date to April 8 or 9.
Christian voters, and voters of Chinese descent raised objections to the original date of April 5, which falls on a Sunday when Chinese would celebrate Cheng Beng day and Christians would go to church, KPU chairman Abdul Hafiz Anshary said Friday.
"We initially decided April 5 would be the legislative election day, because the 2004 election was also held on that date," Hafiz said after attending the launch of the 2009 election program by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at State Palace.
"This was in compliance with the election law, which stipulates that elections are held every five years. We were not aware April 5 fell on a Sunday," he added.
Indonesian Chinese and Christians are both minority groups in the predominantly Muslim country.
Hafiz said the KPU had set a voter turnout target of 70 percent, slightly higher than 2004's 67.57 percent of voters.
The House of Representatives, which the KPU had consulted, confirmed that the rescheduling would not break the election law, Hafiz said.
The KPU, he said, may choose between April 8 or 9, since both days were mid-week when people would be unlikely go on holidays and would more likely turn up to vote.
The final date would be determined at an internal KPU meeting.
Hafiz underlined the importance of increasing turnout at the next election, given the low turnout of many recent regional polls.
"People are not keen to vote because they get bored with elections and are disappointed with leaders and political parties," he said.
The KPU would intensify its media campaigns, aiming to encourage eligible voters to exercise their democratic right and raise awareness of the importance of the general elections.
The KPU passed 51 of 64 potential contending parties after an administrative screening.
The body would announce parties eligible to contest the legislative election on July 5 of this year, with 16 already qualified due to their presence in the House.
Parties contesting will be allowed to campaign from July 8, 2008 to April 2, 2009.
Yudhoyono called on the public to maintain peace and order during the lengthy campaign period.
"Everyone participating the election campaigns should maintain harmony and unity. We all expect a peaceful election," he said.
