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KPU Papua improves ‘noken’ voting system
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All ready — A local resident looks at samples of ballots displayed during a regional election simulation event in Sorong, West Papua, on Nov. 12.
(Antara/Olha Mulalinda)
T
he Papua General Elections Commission (KPU) is set to introduce several changes to the noken voting system, which will be used in six of the province’s 11 regencies and municipalities during the 2017 simultaneous regional elections.
Voters using the noken system do not vote in the manner regulated by the 2016 Regional Elections Law, in which people attend a polling station and cast a ballot. Under the system, voters are represented by another person, either a tribal leader or someone appointed through a common agreement within a community. The chosen person later reports the result to election officials.
“Such a system is not in line with existing regulations, in which eligible voters must come to polling stations to vote. That’s why the KPU Papua composed a module on election procedures using the noken system,” KPU Papua commissioner Beatrix Wanane said on Thursday.
She said the module would not abolish the noken system but would introduce some changes. “It’s not a problem if they want to discuss who will be elected or to entrust their group or tribal leaders to choose people they will vote for. However, all voters must come to polling stations and bring their C-7 [voting invitation] forms. Election officers will later record their presence on C-1 forms,” said Beatrix, adding that the noken system used in the past was prone to manipulation.
The module will be published in December and later introduced in six regencies that use the noken system from January 2017. They are Dogiya, Intan Jaya, Lanny Jaya, Nduga, Puncak Jaya and Tolikara. (ebf)
