Poll boycott to mark presidential election<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Large numbers of spoiled ballots and high levels of absenteeism
\nhave characterized all the elections the country has ever
\norganized, with many perceiving this to be a reflection of
\ndistrust in the fairness of the polls rather than people's
\nignorance of politics.<\/p>\n
Former president Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid has consistently
\nproclaimed that he will abstain ever since his comeback bid was
\ndenied by the General Elections Commission in May, despite the
\nfact that his brother Solahuddin Wahid was picked as the running
\nmate for Golkar Party's presidential candidate, Wiranto.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the number of people casting spoiled ballots or
\nboycotting elections in the past never reached such a level that
\nit could affect the legitimacy of the polls.<\/p>\n
Although recognizing the right not to vote, electoral law
\ncriminalizes people who seek to \"ask others to boycott a poll\"
\nthrough the use of force.<\/p>\n
Activist Sri Bintang Pamungkas is another prominent self-
\nproclaimed poll abstainer.<\/p>\n
He said on Friday he would encourage people to support his
\nstance due to the failure of the General Elections Committee
\n(KPU) to organize an election that could ensure the realization
\nof the public's dreams of better government.<\/p>\n
\"Absenteeism reflects the public's distrust in the
\npresidential candidates and an overall electoral process that has
\nbeen tainted by corruption. We pledge to fight for justice by
\nboycotting the presidential election,\" the former House
\nlegislator said.<\/p>\n
The People's Movement for a New Indonesia (GRIB), which Sri
\nBintang chairs, filed a civil suit against the KPU in May for its
\nrefusal to allow independent candidates to contest the July 5
\npresidential race.<\/p>\n
\"I expect the number of poll abstainers will surpass 20
\npercent of the total number of voters during the presidential
\nelection. This is not only because of our movement but also the
\nfact that many people remain confused about their choices,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The KPU has announced that a total of 153,357,307 people have
\nbeen registered as eligible voters for the July 5 presidential
\nelection, up from the 147,106,000 registered for the April 5
\nlegislative elections.<\/p>\n
KPU data also revealed that around 23.5 million voters, or
\nalmost 16 percent of those registered, did not vote in the
\nlegislative elections and nearly 11 million ballots, or 8.8
\npercent, were classified as spoiled for various reasons.<\/p>\n
The number of eligible voters who did not cast ballots was
\nhigher than the number of votes gained by Golkar, which finished
\nfirst in the April election.<\/p>\n
Political analyst Syamsuddin Haris predicted that the number
\nof poll abstainers in the upcoming presidential election would
\nnot be that significant due to the euphoria surrounding the
\ncountry's first ever direct presidential election.<\/p>\n
\"The level of abstention during the upcoming presidential
\nelection will not be that huge compared to the legislative
\nelections because many people are enthusiastic and curious about
\nit. They want to feel the first experience of voting directly,\"
\nsaid Syamsuddin.<\/p>\n
\"The public's distrust in political parties does not
\nnecessarily mean they will boycott the election, because they
\nwill vote for personalities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that more voters would shun the presidential runoff on
\nSept. 20, mostly disappointed people whose presidential
\ncandidates were ejected during the first round.<\/p>",
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