The Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) has ruled that the General Elections Commission (KPU) has committed administrative violations regarding the shipping of replacement ballots for the 2024 overseas election in Taipei.

“[The KPU] is proven to have committed electoral administrative violations," said Bawaslu official Puadi on Thursday, as quoted by Antara News.

Bawaslu found that sending replacement ballots violated laws on elections administration and Bawaslu regulations.

Late last year, the KPU sent 31,276 ballots to voters in Taipei on Dec. 18 and Dec. 25. These ballots were later declared damaged by the KPU.

“We declare these ballots as damaged and not counted in the ballot tally [… ] Why? Because they were sent prematurely. Thus, they do not comply with the established regulations," KPU chairman Hasyim Asy’ari said on Dec. 26.

Bawaslu warned the KPU two days later not to declare the ballots damaged, citing the possible widespread repercussions it might incur. Despite this, the KPU still sent replacement ballots on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10, without providing any distinction between the new ballots and the earlier ones they had declared damaged. All were sealed with the "Taipei PPLN [Overseas Elections Committee]” official stamp.

Prior to announcing Bawaslu’s ruling on the case, Puadi pointed out errors in sending replacement ballots due to the tight schedule, which resulted in some voters receiving two ballots for the presidential and vice presidential election and one ballot for the election of members of the House of Representatives.

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