PPS responsible for poll fraud: Cetro<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta<\/p>\n
An independent poll watchdog blamed on Wednesday the high number
\nof electoral procedure violations on the deliberate disregard of
\ncorrect procedure by poll committee (PPS) members.<\/p>\n
The Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro) said in its latest
\nfindings that the violations had paved the way for irregularities
\non election day, ranging from multiple voting and underage voting
\nto the use of voter cards by people other than the card's
\nholders.<\/p>\n
It said that members of poll committees allowed non-registered
\nvoters to cast their votes unobserved at 31 percent (1,885) of
\npolling stations.<\/p>\n
In the July 5 presidential election, Cetro deployed over
\n13,000 watchers to 11 of the country's 32 provinces.<\/p>\n
\"An example is that members of poll committees in Banjarbaru,
\nSouth Kalimantan, were not provided with a list of eligible
\nvoters. As a solution, they asked each of the voters to write
\ntheir names on a piece of paper,\" Sri Budi Eko Wardhani of Cetro
\nsaid at the General Elections Commission (KPU) data center.<\/p>\n
The poll watchdog also discovered that poll committees did not
\nenact measures to prevent voters from casting their ballots more
\nthan once.<\/p>\n
\"We found, at eight percent of polling stations monitored,
\nvoters' fingers were not inked after they voted. While at 24
\npercent of polling stations, organizers did not check the voters'
\nfingers before they were given ballot papers,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Poll committee officials were also blamed for allowing
\nindividuals to vote on behalf of others, especially their family
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Poll committee members were also alleged to have intimidated
\nvoters in an effort to influence their choice.<\/p>\n
\"Our observers discovered that at 15 percent of polling
\nstations, poll committee members were seen bullying voters,\"
\nCetro said in its written statement.<\/p>\n
Executive director of Cetro Smita Notosusanto said the high
\nnumber of violations was a reflection of the poor training of
\npoll organizers by the General Elections Commission.<\/p>\n
\"The consistent enactment of regulations by poll organizers
\nshould have been a priority,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She was quick to add that the General Election Supervisory
\nCommittee (Panwaslu) should have been given more authority.<\/p>\n
\"Panwaslu should have been given full authority to hear
\nreports and conduct investigations, instead of (the KPU)
\ncurtailing its role,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The KPU issued a new ruling over the weekend that diminished
\nmuch of the committee's power to handle electoral offenses.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pps-responsible-for-poll-fraud-cetro-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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