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Bawaslu receives reports of vote buying in provinces
Bawaslu vows to take action if the allegations are proven to be true.
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A worker carries a ballot box for distribution to polling stations at a distribution center in Jakarta on Feb. 13, 2024 ahead of the voting day of the 2024 general election on Feb. 14. (Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon)
The Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) in Jakarta has received reports of alleged vote buying from several provinces across the country.
Benny Sabdo, Bawaslu Jakarta's coordinator for violations handling, said that Bawaslu was investigating reports alleging that candidates for the House of Representatives were involved in vote buying in North Jakarta and West Jakarta.
"If we have sufficient evidence, we will take action. However, if there is insufficient evidence, we will at least take preventive measures," said Benny, as quoted from Kompas.com.
According to Benny, one report came from the Tambora district, West Jakarta, involving a candidate from the Golkar Party, and another in Cilincing, North Jakarta, implicating a candidate from the Democratic Party.
Additionally, residents of Tambora reportedly received Rp 50,000 [US$3.21] from the head of the local neighborhood unit (RT) in the past two days.
These incidents are not isolated, as reports of other instances of vote buying have come from other provinces. In Cianjur, West Java, a civil servant identified only as OS was apprehended in a sting operation.
Bawaslu Cianjur's coordinator of violation handling and information, Yana Sopyan, said that OS was apprehended by the police after Yana and his team investigated reports of vote buying.
