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KPU insists electoral roll is valid
The polling body insists it has fixed the much-derided electoral roll for the upcoming presidential election, amid widespread mounting skepticism
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The polling body insists it has fixed the much-derided electoral roll for the upcoming presidential election, amid widespread mounting skepticism.
“We allowed greater access for the Elections Supervisory Body [Bawaslu] to verify the electoral roll a few days ago," Syamsulbahri, a member of the General Elections Commission (KPU), told The Jakarta Post on Friday in Jakarta.
"We've also been coordinating with poll workers at all levels to update the electoral roll.”
The electoral roll has met with strong protest from the public, particularly from parties supporting the three presidential candidates, after the House of Representatives and poll watchdogs claimed they had found rampant voter fraud across the country, following April's legislative elections.
The special committee assigned by the House to investigate the fraud cases also found irregularities in the electoral roll used for the presidential election.
The irregularities include the discovery of 420 identical names and same single identity numbers, child voters, voters who were dead, and the registration of military and police personnel, who are legally barred from voting.
Both Bawaslu and the Indonesian Voters Committee also found the electoral roll for July's presidential election was no different from the one used in the legislative polls, and believed to have left some 47 million voters disenfranchised.
Syamsulbahri said the commission had followed up on the issues on multiple entries and fake names.
“We have contacted our regional branches regarding the matter. I can assure you all of the multiple and fake names have been omitted from the electoral roll,” he said.
Syamsulbahri also said the commission would invite witnesses from each presidential campaign team to verify the electoral roll.
House legislator Sayuti Asyathri, from the National Mandate Party (PAN), said the commission had to be more serious in dealing with the matter.
“This is a serious issue. The commission must respond to the campaign teams’ wishes by giving them a chance to verify not only the electoral roll data, but also the infrastructure, such as information technology and the ink being used to mark voters' fingers after they voting,” he said.
He added the mismanagement of the electoral roll, according to reports from his constituents, had raised concerns among the election stakeholders.
“The reports show the KPU has no authority at all at regional polling stations," he said.
"I have received reports saying officials at the polling stations receive all kinds of threats from various sources.
“If we can't ensure security at these stations, how can we ensure the legitimacy of the election results?”
If the commission fails to establish a valid electoral roll, the election must be delayed, said a member of Vice President Jusuf Kalla’s campaign team.
“We recommend the KPU delay, should this occur," said Pompida Hidayatullah.
"However, the commission has not made any response yet.”
Refly Harun, a political analyst from the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro), said the main issue was not whether the election should be postponed.
“Nor is it the number of unregistered voters. The point is to find a solution to the problem as soon as possible,” he said.
“The presidential election law stipulates only registered voters may vote. The government should therefore issue a regulation-in-lieu-of-law to allow eligible but unregistered voters to vote.” (hdt)
