KPU rejects Catholics' voting day postponement request

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has rejected a request by Catholic leaders and East Flores to postpone the legislative elections scheduled for April 9 because of a clash with the holiday of Easter.

East Nusa Tenggara Elections Commission (KPUD) spokesman Djidon de Han said the KPU had rejected the request because fulfilling it would disrupt ongoing elections preperations.

"KPUD chairman Jhon Depa and the province's legislative council speaker Melkianus Adoe had a meeting with the KPU in Jakarta today; the KPU rejected the request," Djidon said Wednesday.

He said postponing voting day would increase state spending.

"We had consulted with the KPU about it twice. This time was the third meeting. But the KPU still refused. The KPU asked if Catholics could make an adjustment," Djidon said.

Catholic leaders sent an official letter to demand the elections be postponed, saying that April 9 was also Maundy Tuesday, when Jesus ate his last supper with his disciples before his execution on Good Friday.

The schedule clash raised fears many Christians will not cast their votes.

Djidon said the KPUD would erect more polling stations so that Christians would not have to spend as long voting.

"With the additional stations, each will be able to accommodate a maximum of 300 voters. So, they should not have to wait long and they can continue their religious ritual," he said.

He said the results of the elections would still be valid even if a large number of people abstained from voting.

He said that the election law stipulated that voting day could only be postponed in the event of a disaster or a national emergency or "other incidents that cannot be overcome".