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Inaugural polls marred by low turnout
The South Tangerang mayoral election on Saturday was marked by poor voter turnout, with Arsid and running mate Andre Taulany claiming a lead
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he South Tangerang mayoral election on Saturday was marked by poor voter turnout, with Arsid and running mate Andre Taulany claiming a lead.
The South Tangerang Voters Network independent organization stated that only 55 percent of eligible voters cast their votes, news portal tempointeraktif.com reported.
No voters were seen at polling station (TPS) 9 in Wates, Pakulonan subdistrict, North Serpong, where mayoral candidate Airin Rachmi Diany cast her vote at 9:15 a.m.
Endang Ahmad, the chairman of the local polling committee group (KPPS), said the committee had registered 360 eligible voters but that only 201 turned out to cast their votes at the polling station as of closing time at 1 p.m.
The first ever election for mayor in the newly established municipality saw 732,190 voters register at 1,890 polling stations across the municipality.
At TPS 19 in the Taman Permata I Bintaro residential complex in Parigi subdistrict, Pondok Aren, the turnout was also quite low.
“We have a voter roll of 520 eligible voters but only 116 cast their vote as of 11:45 a.m,” KPPS chairman Meidy Tri Soelarso said, adding that the committee members had appealed to residents to participate by canvassing door to door a day before the vote.
Arsid’s campaign team claimed Arsid was leading the race. “Based on a quick count from all TPS, Arsid holds gained 60 percent of the votes,” campaign official Fatahillah was quoted as saying by tempointeraktif.com. no official figures have been released.
Arsid, a comedian and former pop vocalist, was nominated by a coalition of small parties, including the United Development Party (PPP), People’s Conscience Party (Hanura), Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) and Crescent Star Party (PBB).
The
other candidates include Yayat Sudrajat and running mate Norodom
Sukarno, Rodhiyah Najibah and running mate Sulaeman Yasin, and Airin
Rachmi Diany and running mate Benjamin Davnie.
The South Tangerang Elections Commision will announce the results on Nov. 18.
South Tangerang, which consists of Ciputat, East Ciputat, Pamulang, Pondok Aren, Serpong, North Serpong and Setu districts, was part of Tangerang regency. With a total population of 1,037,000, the districts have developed into a city of housing complexes built around growing trade and service business sectors.
