Local government told to prepare for polls<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Denpasar<\/p>\n
The government has called on regional administrations across the
\ncountry to take the measures necessary to ensure all eligible
\nvoters can exercise their right to vote in the presidential
\nelection scheduled for July 5.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno conveyed the message
\nduring a coordination meeting with the governors of Bali and West
\nNusa Tenggara, and mayors and regents from the two provinces.<\/p>\n
\"We should regard voter registration in the legislative
\nelection in April as a valuable lesson. Registration is one of
\nthe most difficult stages in preparing for an election,\" he told
\nthe meeting here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
State Secretary Bambang Kesowo and State Intelligence Body
\n(BIN) chief A.M. Hendropriyono were also in attendance.<\/p>\n
The home minister also suggested that the local
\nadministrations prepare for a lengthy period of work due to the
\npossibility of a runoff on Sept. 20.<\/p>\n
Of 148,000,369 registered voters, almost 16 percent did not
\nparticipate in the legislative election, because many had not
\nbeen reregistered as eligible voters by the General Elections
\nCommission (KPU).<\/p>\n
With regard to the distribution of poll materials for the
\npresidential election, the minister urged local administrations
\nto assist the KPU in delivery of ballot papers and indelible ink
\nto polling stations.<\/p>\n
Th KPU was forced to delay voting in some areas in Papua, Aceh
\nand East Nusa Tenggara because it failed to distribute ballot
\npapers on time.<\/p>\n
The commission blamed difficult terrain and bad weather for
\nthe delayed vote at 513 polling stations in seven of 20 regencies
\nin Papua, and security concerns for the postponement in war-torn
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
The government issued a regulation in lieu of law to
\nanticipate election delays as a result of the logistical
\nproblems. The regulation amended the election law, which says a
\ndelay is permissible in the event of riot, natural disaster or
\nsecurity disturbance.<\/p>\n
Hari said that the central government would issue a guideline
\nthat would allow the local administrations to use emergency funds
\nfrom the regional budget to distribute election materials.<\/p>\n
To ensure accountability in regional budget expenditure, he
\nsaid, the government would assign the inspector general in each
\nlocal government, plus accountants, to audit the expenditure.<\/p>\n
Hari, who is also the interim coordinating minister for
\npolitical and security affairs, asserted that vote counting would
\nbe crucial in the presidential election.<\/p>\n
In contrast to the legislative election, in which the value of
\na vote varied from one electoral district to another, a vote in
\nthe presidential election has the same value anywhere in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"Vote counting must be done accurately because a vote can
\ndetermine the election result,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To win the presidency a candidate must garner more than 50
\npercent of the total vote. The vote in at least 17 provinces may
\nnot be less than 20 percent.<\/p>\n
If no contender manages to secure an outright majority, the
\ntop two candidates will contest a runoff.<\/p>\n
Hari called on all state officials intending to join the
\ncampaign team of a presidential candidate to inform their
\nsuperiors and take leave.<\/p>\n
A governor must seek permission from the President via the
\nhome minister, while a regent or mayor must similarly obtain
\npermission from the home minister via the governor.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/local-government-told-to-prepare-for-polls-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}