Commission eases rules over ballot punching

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has decided to declare legitimate ballot papers punched on party symbols and between names of candidates in order to reduce the number of illicit votes in the upcoming legislative election.

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said on Tuesday that the decision was made to accommodate political parties' requests and reduce the number of illegitimate votes.

Tremor and failing eyesight could cause people to punch the 0.3-centimeter space between the candidates' names, he said.

"Parties have reminded us of the possibility that voters could punch ballot papers on party symbols and between the names of two candidates under party symbols on election day. So we decided to consider such votes legitimate. This is an additional ruling," he said on Tuesday.

Ramlan also said that punching ballot papers on party symbols, or the names of candidates who had died or withdrawn their candidacy would also be ruled legitimate.

Article 93 of the General Elections Law stipulates that votes for the House of Representatives (DPR), provincial and regental legislatures are considered legitimate if the ballot papers are punched on party symbols and on one candidate's name, or on the party symbol alone.

Experts and political parties have warned that given the people's limited knowledge of the new system many ballot papers could be declared illegitimate.

In the past elections, voters were asked to mark symbols of political parties alone.

The country will hold the legislative election on April 5 to elect members of the House, Regional Representatives Council (DPD), and provincial and regental legislatures. It will be proceeded by the presidential election on July 5, and the possible runoff for the top two candidates on Sept. 20.

A vote for a candidate for the DPD is legitimate if the ballot paper is punched on the candidate's pictures as stipulated by Article 94 of the General Elections Law.

There are 147.8 million eligible voters for this year's elections, including 400,000 Indonesians who will vote overseas.

Ramlan called on registered voters who had not received voter registration cards to report to the Subdistrict Polling Committee (PPS) to clarify his/her status and whether or not he/she was registered to vote at least 24 hours before April 5.

"Just show your identification card to PPS, so that they can clarify your status," he said.

Besides, the Working Committee for Polling Stations (KPPS) would also send eligible voters a letter at least three days before the election day, inviting them to vote at certain polling stations.