Pollsters allowed to announce quick count results on election day

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 07/03/2009 7:19 PM  |  National

The Constitutional Court (MK) ruled in favor of independent survey groups Friday, allowing them to announce the results from quick counts shortly after the presidential election on July 8.
 
The verdict annulled Articles 188, 228 and 255 of the 2008 presidential election law, which banned any publication of quick count results before the General Elections Commission issued an official vote tally.

“The announcement of quick count results will not affect voters’ decisions because the results can only be announced after balloting,” court chief Mahfud MD told a hearing.
 
A number of surveyors grouped under the Public Opinion Research Association filed a judicial review against the law.

Denny JA, who led the group and is from the Indonesian Survey Circle, said he was content with the court ruling.

“We will conduct a quick count and announce the result at 4 p.m. This way, the public will know who our new president is by then,” he said.
 
Earlier this year, the court declared that articles within the general election law banning the release of quick counts violated the Constitution. The judicial review against the articles was filed by the same group of surveyors. (bbs)

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