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Health minister says 27 poll workers died throughout 2024 election
The health minister announced on Friday that 27 local poll administrators (KPPS) had died over the course of the election, with the causes of death including heart attacks and accidents.
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A woman inserts her ballots into a ballot box at a polling station in South Tangerang, Banten, during the 2024 general election on Feb. 14. (Reuters/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana)
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin announced on Friday that at least 27 deaths occurred among local poll administrators (KPPS) before, during and after the 2024 general election.
Of the figure, nine people had died from heart attacks, two from septic shock, one from acute respiratory distress syndrome and one from hypertension, while four KPPS were killed in accidents.
The causes of death for the remaining eight KPPS are still under investigation.
"Compared to previous years with death tolls upwards of 100 [election workers], the number this year is much smaller," Budi said during a visit to Dharmais Cancer Hospital in West Jakarta, as quoted on the website of television news program Liputan6.
"We think [local poll administrators] knew better not to work too hard [this time]," he added.
The health minister said preexisting comorbidities, such as hypertension and diabetes, often contributed to deaths among poll workers.
He also expressed his hope that deaths among KPPS could be prevented entirely in future elections, and suggested that potential election workers undergo health screenings, as checking for hypertension and diabetes was relatively quick and easy.
