The Indonesian Society for Civilized Elections (ISCEL) said watchdogs were deeply concerned over the KPU's poor performance in managing the recent elections as indicated by the fraudulent electoral roll, overlapping regulations and poor logistical distribution.

"In the future, no more problems should emerge regarding the electoral roll, technicalities or regulations, regardless of the election system," said ISCEL chairman Ari Juliano, during the evaluation of the general elections in Jakarta on Saturday.

He said the country should learn a lesson from the chaotic organization of the general elections in terms of recruiting the election body's new commissioners, managing legislative and presidential elections in the future, and preparing regulations including political laws.

The KPU has come under fire for a series of election problems that began in the year-long 2007 gubernatorial elections in East Java, and continued in the preparations for the general elections and the vote counting process that led to numerous cases at the Constitutional Court.

Amid mounting pressure for KPU commissioners to resign, the Constitutional Court also mentioned the election body's lack of professionalism as the main issue behind election violation cases brought to the court.

Allegations of a fraudulent electoral roll were initially raised during the legislative elections by several political parties, including Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

During the legislative and presidential elections, an estimated 20 million eligible voters were deprived of their right to vote because they were not registered either with the government or with the polling body. Candidates also claimed they found double names, duplicate identity numbers, underage voters and names of the deceased on the electoral roll.

The KPU in turn blames the disorganization on political laws that were passed too late and the Consitutional Court for revising the laws so close to the election.

The election committee also claimed that its commissioners would not step down because the law authorized that it organize the general elections.

"Authorities should interrogate certain sides calling for the resignation of KPU members because it is against the law. We will not step down until the end of our term in 2013," said KPU member Andi Nurpati. The law stipulates that the employment of KPU members can be terminated if they are found to be incompetent.

However, the Constitutional Court has dismissed violation cases relating to the presidential election, which were filed by defeated presidential candidates Megawati Soekarnoputri and Jusuf Kalla, who were seeking an election rerun.

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