People encouraged to register for general election<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Like in other cities across the country,
\nIndonesians in the capital who are 17 years of age and older --
\nexcept for members of the Armed Forces (ABRI) -- are being urged
\nto register for the June 7 general election beginning on Monday.<\/p>\n
According to the National Elections Committee, people can
\nregister at a number of public places, including schools, village
\nmeeting halls and subdistrict offices.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, most of the registration locations will be
\npublicly announced beginning on Monday. This will be followed by
\nthe registration period, which will last until April 12.<\/p>\n
From April 13 to April 18, voter registration officials,
\nlocally called Gastarlih, will visit those who live in remote
\nareas and those who are unable to register themselves, including
\nprisoners, the elderly, disabled people and those being treated
\nin hospitals.<\/p>\n
The only requirement to register is a document which provides
\nproof of nationality, and gives the age and address of those
\nwishing to register. People can present registration officials,
\nfor example, an identification card (KTP), a student
\nidentification card, a letter from their local neighborhood chief
\nor an employee card.<\/p>\n
Those who cannot register during the April 5 to April 12
\nregistration period will be allowed to register with Gastarlih
\nfrom April 30 to May 4.<\/p>\n
The head of Jakarta's Provincial Elections Committee, Djafar
\nBadjeber, urged Jakartans to use the valuable chance to exercise
\ntheir right to vote.<\/p>\n
\"If people wish the prolonged crisis to end soon, they should
\nparticipate in the polls, which will determine the new government
\nand hopefully will bring the country out of the crisis,\" he told
\nThe Jakarta Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
About 5.8 million of the city's 9.7 million residents are
\neligible to vote in the polls, which will be contested by 48
\npolitical parties.<\/p>\n
According to Djafar, Gastarlih in Jakarta also will visit
\nresidents and urge them to voluntarily register if voter
\nregistration is low.<\/p>\n
Reaction<\/p>\n
Contacted separately by the Post on Sunday, many Jakartans,
\nincluding an activist, a civil servant, an executive, a servant
\nand a housewife, said they were not enthusiastic about
\nregistering themselves to vote. They said they preferred to be
\nvisited by Gastarlih.<\/p>\n
Yuniyanti Chuzaifah, an executive with the Women Solidarity
\nnon-governmental organization, said it was impossible for her to
\nregister during working hours.<\/p>\n
Umikalsum Boer, head of the reforestation section in the
\nJakarta office of the Ministry of Forestry, said it was too
\ndifficult to register because she lived in Depok, West Java, but
\nworked in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I will register myself only if I have time. It will be very
\nhelpful if the officials (Gastarlih) visit residents,\" she said.<\/p>\n
A similar view is held by Dewi Widianti, public relations
\nmanager at Hilton Hotel.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, I'll choose the easier way to register. That is
\nwaiting for registration officials because it won't bother my
\nworking hours,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Nuriah, a servant in Central Jakarta said: \"I won't register
\nunless, like during the 1997 election, the local neighborhood
\nchief forces me to vote.\"<\/p>\n
Veteran journalist and noted author Arswendo Atmowiloto, who
\nadmitted to have never voted in previous elections, has a
\ndifferent view.<\/p>\n
He insisted he would not miss this poll and would voluntarily
\nregister himself.<\/p>\n
\"For sure, I will not miss the registration process,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Liana, a housewife from Tangerang, said she would
\nvote in the election because she wanted to have a new experience.<\/p>\n
\"It is the first time I can choose one of the symbols of the
\n48 parties contesting the poll.\"<\/p>\n
\"Also, if it's possible, I want to keep one ballot for myself
\nas a kind of souvenir,\" she said. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/people-encouraged-to-register-for-general-election-1447893297",
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