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‘Spooky’ polling station enlivens voting day in Semarang
Election officials have found ways to make regional head elections held simultaneously in 171 regions across Indonesia on Wednesday ‘cheerful’, and even more ‘monumental’.
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A sense of creativity: Polling station officers at polling station TPS 7 in Randusari subdistrict, South Semarang district, Semarang city, Central Java, wear ghost-costumes during the Central Java gubernatorial election on June 27. (JP/Suherdjoko)
E
lection officials in Semarang, Central Java, have found a way to make the regional head elections, which are being held simultaneously in 171 regions across Indonesia on Wednesday, "cheerful" and even more "monumental".
A polling station in Randusari subdistrict, South Semarang, has been specially decorated to create a spooky atmosphere. Located in the middle of Bergota Public Cemetery, the polling station TPS 7 saw all its election officials dress in ghost costumes, including pocong [the soul of a dead person trapped in its shroud].
The polling station was also decorated with spooky decorations, such as a large effigy of the Balinese Leak, a mythological figure who loves to kill infants, which were placed to the left and right side of the station alongside a miniature graveyard and other scary accessories.
A keranda (coffin carrier) that had reportedly just been used to carry a deceased body two days ago, was also placed in the polling station.
“Our concept is to give this polling station a 'horror' theme so it will look unique,” said Bruno Krisyanto, the head of Polling Station Officers (KPPS) at TPS 7, as quoted by tribunnews.com on Wednesday.
Bruno said the idea of creating a ghost-themed polling station came naturally because the station was located in the middle of Bergota Public Cemetery.
Local resident Yosep Bagus Adi Wicaksana said residents had no objections to the ghost-concept. "Every day we live side by side with tombs," he said. (stu/ebf)
