Mega, Kalla call for electoral roll repair too late: JPPR

The People's Voter Education Network (JPPR) said Monday the demand by presidential candidates Megawati Soekarnoputri and Jusuf Kalla that the General Elections Commission (KPU) immediately fix the electoral roll came too late.

"Their demand makes things more complicated now," JPPR coordinator Jerry Sumampouw said as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

The issuance of a government regulation-in-lieu-of-law that will allow people to use their identity cards to vote in Wednesday’s presidential election looks highly unlikely, as the House of Representatives has entered its recess, he said.

"Because the House is in recess, it will be difficult for the President to issue a regulation-in-lieu-of-law, because he needs to consult on it with the House," he said.

Jerry added a postponement of the election would be the most feasible means of resolving the electoral roll fiasco, but pointed out this solution would also require discussions between the President, the House and the Supreme Court.

He blamed the KPU for failing to foresee that the electoral roll problem could pose a serious threat to the election.

"I think the KPU has underestimated this electoral roll problem as only an administrative issue," Jerry said.