T

he eruption of Mount Kelud in East Java could jeopardize the 2014 general election as it is likely to wreak havoc on logistical preparations, especially the ballot paper printing process.

Election Supervisory Committee (Bawaslu) commissioner Nasrullah said on Friday that logistics in as many as 52 electoral districts were at risk of being affected by the eruption, which has spewed ash across multiple regions of Central Java and East Java.

'€œThe eruption seems to have had a widespread effect across Central Java and Yogyakarta. There are many companies [responsible for printing ballot papers] located in Central Java and East Java,'€ Nasrullah told a press conference at the Bawaslu headquarters in Central Jakarta.

According to Nasrullah, the companies located in areas affected by the falling ash produce ballot papers for 25 of the country'€™s 33 provinces, and 52 of the total of 77 electoral districts.

'€œThe eruption will clearly disrupt economic activities, which could halt the operation of companies, banks and so on. Moreover, airports in Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta and Bali are also closed for a temporary but indefinite length of time,'€ he said.

Nasrullah emphasized that the eruption happened close to the ballot paper printing deadline on March 20.

'€œThe disruption in the production and distribution process [of election materials] could lead to a failure to hold the poll on April 9,'€ he said.

According to a source within the General Elections Commission (KPU), printing companies in Klaten, Central Java, were forced to halt their production as ash had covered their printing machines.

He said that the big machines were located outdoors and thus were not able to operate, while the small ones were still functioning as they were located inside air-conditioned rooms.

KPU chairman Husni Kamil Manik, meanwhile, said that the election could be postponed in areas struck by the disaster. '€œIf the disaster makes it impossible for the election to be held on the same day [in all areas], then Law No. 8/2012 on elections will provide the opportunity for the election to be held on another date [in some locations],'€ he said on Friday.

However, postponing the voting day is a last resort that will only be taken if the KPU cannot manage the disaster aftermath, according to Husni.

'€œWe are making a plan B in order to manage the impact of the disasters, so that the election can still be held according to schedule,'€ he said.

Husni cited relocation as a possible plan B. '€œIf we can alter the voting day, why not [relocate the polling booths],'€ he said.

According to Husni, the KPU is currently attempting to mitigate the effect of the disaster by instructing the KPU'€™s regional branches to collect data on refugees as well as logistical materials.

'€œThey will see whether logistical materials are destroyed or not. If there are, then we will replace them,'€ Husni said.

KPU commissioner Arief Budiman meanwhile said that the KPU'€™s regional branches were trying to obtain as much information as possible on the disaster, such as when the eruption was predicted to end.

'€œI judge that if [the eruption] lasts until mid-March, then the schedule is still on track. But if it lasts until the end of March, then we will prepare for plan B,'€ he said.

Despite the huge potential of disruption to the election processes, Arief said that the KPU'€™s regional branches were the ones handling the effect of the disaster at the moment.

'€œIf they can'€™t handle it, then we will take action,'€ he said, adding that, if necessary, the central KPU would take things into its own hands by deploying staff members and providing financial aid. Nasrullah said that Bawaslu would coordinate with the KPU to anticipate problems stemming from the disaster.