Jakarta flood victims were grateful they still could cast their votes, but many of the more well-heeled failed to go to the polls Thursday to vote on election day.
Flood victims in Kampung Pulo in Kampung Melayu, East Jakarta, began to throng temporary polling stations from 7 a.m. Many said they had waited for hours and had passed the time by chatting or eating food sold by street vendors.
The Coordination Board for Disaster Mitigation (Satkorlak) reported 7,437 people from 1,943 families had been affected by meter-high floodwater on Tuesday.
Erni, carrying her 4-month-old son, waited her turn to vote at a temporary polling station in the front yard of the Santa Maria elementary school.
"I walked about 2 kilometers to get here, because the polling station in my neighborhood is still full of mud," she said.
"I was surprised to see it was already crowded here. I've been standing for almost two hours, waiting for my turn to vote."
"It's a bit uncomfortable to have a narrow booth. It's too close. But it's OK, as long as I can cast my vote today," said 58-year-old Isa.
The Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) had to move 20 of 55 polling stations in Kampung Pulo after they got flooded. One lane of Jl. Jatinegara Barat had to be closed off to let voters line up outside the polling stations.
"Most of polling stations located along the Ciliwung riverbank are still inundated with mud. So it's inappropriate to carry out the polling in such a place," said Syaefullah, a supervisor with the KPUD.
"Besides, we took this step *of moving the polling stations* in anticipation of more rains," he said, adding there were 21,646 registered voters in Kampung Melayu subdistrict.
It was a completely different scene in Menteng, Central Jakarta. Six community units in the elite area set up two polling stations at Surapati Park, in addition to an extra tent for free meals from selected street vendors serving dishes like fried rice, chicken porridge and oxtail soup.
"The reason we provided food from street vendors *at the polling stations* was because we want *the residents* to socialize after casting their votes," said neighborhood unit head Bambang Sudirjo.
"We feel we don't have close enough ties as neighbors, so this event also serves as a gathering."
But the effort to attract Menteng residents to cast their votes did not go as well as planned. Of the 442 voters registered at polling station 26, only 200 showed up, while at polling station 27, only 175 of 401 registered voters turned up.
Mulyo Hadi, official in charge of polling station 27, said most residents lacked enthusiasm over the elections.
"Many of them said they were very confused about the many parties and preferred to skip the elections," he said.
Jakartans cast their votes for legislative candidates from 38 parties for the House of Representatives and the City Council, as well as for the Regional Representatives Council.
However, for voter Suryanto, the huge ballot was not the least bit confusing.
"I only marked the political party's symbol. I didn't vote for candidates because I have no idea who they are," he said.
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