W

hen people go to the polling stations across Bali on Wednesday, they will be selecting the best candidates to govern Indonesia's most popular tourist island.

Not only is the island famous for its beauty, it is also vulnerable to social and political tensions, as demonstrated in the last few days while the two challengers have been trying to persuade voters to pick them as their leaders.

Two gubernatorial tickets ' incumbent Made Mangku Pastika and running mate I Ketut Sudikerta (currently deputy regent of Badung) and AAG Ngurah Puspayogo (deputy governor) and running mate I Dewa Nyoman Sukrawan, Buleleng Legislative Council speaker, will eagerly await the results to see the people's preference.

According to data from the Bali General Elections Commission (KPUD), 6,371 polling booths will be open from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. for the island's 2.9 million eligible voters.

Usually, Balinese residents wear their best traditional attire and enthusiastically gather at the ornate banjar (traditional community) halls before heading to the polling stations.

The election will also mean a party ' a festival of democracy. Every banjar is dressed up to welcome the people. Janur (young coconut leaf ornaments), colorful paper and other artistic creations adorn the island's banjar centers.

'Residents are still eligible to vote even though they have not acquired voter cards. Just show your identity cards and you will be able to vote at any polling booth.'

The election will see a head-to-head battle between Pastika and his estranged deputy, Puspayoga.

Pastika and Sudikerta are backed by several political parties united under the Bali Mandara Coalition, comprising the Golkar Party, the Democratic Party, the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Indonesian Nation's National Party (PNBI), the National Functionary Concern Party (PKPB), the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI), and the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party.

Meanwhile, the biggest political party on the island, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has endorsed Puspayoga and Sukrawan.

The KPUD Bali will operate mobile polling stations for hospitalized voters and special polling stations in prisons, including the largest, Kerobokan Penitentary near Kuta.

'We have to guarantee that all eligible voters can exercise their political right to vote,' Prayudi said.

To secure the election, the Bali Police will deploy 7,500 personnel on election day. The number could increase to 12,000, if deemed necessary.

The National Police headquarters have also sent 300 personnel from the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) to help safeguard Bali.

'We will do our best to secure the election, especially securing the post-election period, to anticipate any conflict,' Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Arif Wachyunadi said.

The police have also deployed personnel to secure all government offices since Tuesday, such as the Bali Governor's Office and the KPUD Bali office.

Several water cannon and armored personnel carriers will be ready at vital public offices and facilities.

The KPUD has urged residents to exercise their right to vote. 'People are encouraged to make use of their political rights,' Prayudi said.

The KPUD Bali has set a target of 75 percent voter participation, an increase from 72 percent in the previous gubernatorial election in 2008.

The provincial administration has declared election day a public holiday. Administration spokesperson Ketut Teneng said that all companies on the island must close to enable their employees to go to the polling stations.

Gusti Putu Bagus Suka Arjawa, dean of the School of Social and Political Sciences at Udayana University in Denpasar, commented that the Balinese had limited political awareness. But he felt optimistic that people would go to the polling stations because of their communal attachment to their preferred candidates.