Runoff electorate to fall: KPU<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) estimated on Friday the
\nnumber of eligible voters for the Sept. 20 presidential runoff at
\n153.2 million, down from the over 155 million registered for the
\nJuly 5 polls.<\/p>\n
KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said the estimate
\ncomprised actual voter figures counted during the manual tally,
\nplus first-time voters.<\/p>\n
First-time voters are those who will turn 17 years old, get
\nmarried or retire from civil servant, National Police or
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) posts before Sept. 20. Ramlan estimated
\n700,00 first-time voters would turn up for the runoff.<\/p>\n
The commission has decided not to reregister voters for the
\nrunoff, and first-time voters need only to notify their
\nSubdistrict Polling Committee (PPS).<\/p>\n
The manual vote-count that finished on July 26 revealed that
\nthe actual number of eligible voters was 152.5 million, which
\nmeant about three million \"ghost voters\" had cast ballots.<\/p>\n
\"The new figure will serve as the basis for the number of
\nballot papers we will print,\" Ramlan said.<\/p>\n
The commission is expected to print over 156 million ballots
\nfor the runoff, plus 3.9 million, or 2.5 percent of the total, as
\nreserves. Printing is to begin after the Constitutional Court
\ndelivers a verdict on electoral disputes, which is scheduled for
\nAug. 10 at the latest.<\/p>\n
The commission expects to rehire most of the firms that
\nprinted ballot papers for the July 5 polls, and will announce the
\nlist of companies on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Ballot distribution will start on Aug. 25, and is planned to
\nreach all regions by Sept. 5.<\/p>\n
Ramlan said despite the downsizing of potential voters, the
\ncommission would maintain the same number of polling stations --
\n581,393 -- as the July polls.<\/p>\n
The Elections Supervisory Committee reported earlier that a
\nlarge number of polling stations had not been built because of
\nthe erroneous estimate in voter number by the commission, and
\nalleged that local poll organizers had misused funding for the
\npolling stations.<\/p>\n
The KPU is considering closing the polls at 11 a.m. on Sept.
\n20, as voters will be choosing only one of two candidates.
\nHowever, polling stations in remote areas will be allowed to
\nremain open until 1 p.m., Ramlan said.<\/p>\n
As with previous election days, the government is likely to
\ndeclare Sept. 20 a national holiday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/runoff-electorate-to-fall-kpu-1447893297",
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