Four million voters now registered in capital<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Over four million city residents, or about 78
\npercent of total eligible voters, have registered for the June 7
\ngeneral election, chairman of the Jakarta Provincial Elections
\nCommittee (PPD I) Djafar Badjeber said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Djafar said the large number of registrants showed pessimism
\nabout the implementation of the elections was groundless.<\/p>\n
\"This shows that Jakartans support the elections and thus we
\nhave to help it succeed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sunday was the final day for registration officials to visit
\nthe houses of voters, especially those living in remote areas or
\nothers who were unable to register themselves.<\/p>\n
Based on the General Elections Commission (KPU) schedule,
\nthose voters who still have not registered will be allowed to
\nregister from April 30 to May 4.<\/p>\n
Djafar said the total figure of registrants was 4,366,954.
\nEast Jakarta had the largest number of voters register, with
\n1,223,118 registrants, or 87.71 percent of total eligible voters
\nin the area.<\/p>\n
South Jakarta followed with 993,838 registrants, or 81.02
\npercent of eligible voters, followed by West Jakarta with 936,788
\nregistrants, or 84.04 percent of eligible voters, North Jakarta
\nwith 693,800 registrants, or 75.85 percent of those eligible to
\nvote, and Central Jakarta with 519,110 registrants, or 72.03
\npercent of eligible voters in the area.<\/p>\n
Djafar said there was a sharp increase in the number of
\nregistered voters over the last week. On April 12, the final day
\nof voluntary registration, only 2.65 million people, or 46
\npercent of eligible voters in the city, had registered, he said.<\/p>\n
He also said there would be no campaigning in the city during
\nthe first day of the 17-day campaign period starting on May 19
\nbecause the 48 political parties eligible to contest the
\nelections would use that day to hand out their party symbols to
\nthe people.<\/p>\n
\"On that day (May 19) each of the parties at the mayoralty
\nlevel will deploy two trucks decorated with their respective
\nsymbols and flags to the National Monument (Monas), before the
\ntrucks drive throughout the city,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"But parties are forbidden from carrying people in the
\nvehicles,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Djafar said this was needed to create unity among the poll
\ncontestants and to avoid \"unwanted things from happening\".<\/p>\n
However, he said PPD I had not yet finished formulating the
\ncampaign rules, which call for three parties to campaign in the
\ncity in one day, because there are only 18 days for campaigning
\nand 48 poll contestants.<\/p>\n
The dissemination of the parties' symbols on the first day of
\nthe campaign period will be marked by the raising of the parties'
\nflags.<\/p>\n
The administration has allocated Rp 2 million for the 5,184
\nparty flags and 216 national flags, to be raised at 108 locations
\non main thoroughfares throughout the city.<\/p>\n
Toha Reno of the public order office said that party flags
\nalready being displayed would be removed to prevent the city from
\nbecoming crowded with \"unofficial\" party flags.<\/p>\n
\"The removal will be conducted by public order officials, with
\nthe help of representatives from political parties,\" Toha said.<\/p>\n
\"This is necessary to prevent the city's streets and
\nthoroughfares becoming crowded with flags and spoiling the city's
\nimage.\"<\/p>\n
An official of the office, who requested anonymity, said the
\ntender to supply the flags to be raised on May 19 would most
\nlikely to be won by private firm PT Global Pro.<\/p>\n
\"Flags will be ready by May 17,\" the official said.<\/p>\n
Each flag to be raised is projected to cost Rp 370,370.<\/p>\n
According to a flag seller in Tanah Abang, Siti Habsah, this
\nprice is too high because flags are sold at between Rp 85,000 and
\nRp 175,000 and flag poles cost Rp 75,000 each. (ylt\/ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/four-million-voters-now-registered-in-capital-1447893297",
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