Computer network used to collect vote results

Computer network used to collect vote results

JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) promises
transparency in the ballot-counting process for the June 7
elections, with a plan to develop an integrated database network
to collect votes from all 327 regencies and a public information
service.

KPU deputy chairman Adnan Buyung Nasution said in a news
briefing on Thursday the commission signed a cooperation with
several companies to set up the network. The system is expected
to be ready for operation a week ahead of the polls.

"The commission is launching this step because it wishes to
provide an information technology facility in the ballot-counting
process so the public can monitor it throughout the 290,000
balloting sites across the country," he said.

He said the election commission, the election supervisory
committee, independent monitoring bodies, local and international
observers and individuals could obtain information through the
network. Any matters concerning the elections, including
complaints of vote rigging and manipulation, could be traced to
the balloting sites.

"Manipulations which were prevalent during past elections are
expected to be prevented in the coming elections," he added.

Chairman of KPU subcommission C on the information system, Sri
Bintang Pamungkas, said the vote collection would be conducted
through making use of the on-line information network of a
consortium of banks in regencies and mayoralties.

The system will be connected to a master computer at the KPU
building. Ballot counting can be monitored directly and with real
time, he said.

A staff member of the KPU working team said the process of
collecting votes from balloting sites and conveying them to the
computer center at the KPU building would take between three
hours and seven days after votes were cast.

Bintang said the election commission would also provide an
interactive voice/fax response system (IVFR) and an Internet
homepage to give the public access to data on results.

"With the IVFR system, the public can have access, through 900
phone lines available, to retrieve data directly in voice and
through facsimile. The public can also enter the KPU homepage
with the password pemilu by dialing certain phone numbers that
will be available in nine provincial capitals, including Medan,
Jakarta, Surabaya, Ujungpandang and Manado," he said.

Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, a member of the KPU subcommission,
acknowledged the collecting of votes in balloting sites and their
transportation to regencies would remain vulnerable to
manipulation.

"To minimize possibility of such manipulation, all balloting
papers will be stamped with serial numbers. In addition, the
transportation of voting results from balloting sites to vote
collecting groups in subdistricts and to election committees in
regencies must be conducted under a tight supervision," he said.

He also said the International Foundation for Electoral System
(IFES) established a joint operation between the United States,
Japan and Australia. The three countries will set up an on-line
database network covering election results from more than 4,500
subdistricts across the country.

The joint operation will have its network center at the
Aryaduta Hotel in Jakarta and its work will be useful as a
comparison for the results provided by the election commission,
he said.

Meanwhile, the election commission decided on Thursday that
the 65 seats of the interest group faction at the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) will be distributed to religious
groups (20 seats), independence fighters (five), small-scale
business groups (nine), women's groups (five), intellectual
groups (9), non-governmental organizations (five), civil servants
corps (five), minority ethnics (five) and the handicapped (two).

"The legal mechanism of the appointment of the MPR faction
members will be set later," Andi said. (rms)