Directive for away voting being prepared

Directive for away voting being prepared

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Provincial Elections Committee (PPD
I) is currently preparing a directive on the use of registration
forms for people unable to cast a ballot at their place of
registration for the June 7 poll to avoid ballot rigging, an
official said on Friday.

The directive was badly needed to avoid multiple ballot
casting as had happened in previous elections, PPD I chairman
Djafar Badjeber said.

"We should minimize the chances for those intending to rig the
election. That's why tough requirements are needed," he said.

Djafar said that the requirements could be in the form of
requiring people who cast their ballot away from their places of
registration to show a recommendation letter from their
subdistrict heads, or official letters from companies where they
could not leave their job.

Eligible voters will be obliged to show their registration
forms as well when they cast their ballot, he said.

Based on a newly endorsed law on the general election, voters
should report to the local poll committee if they cannot cast a
ballot at their place of registration.

Djafar said that voters who meet the above requirement
included those who have moved to other areas, worked at certain
places which could not be left unattended, like hospital nurses,
doctors or oil-drilling workers and others affected by a natural
disaster or being detained.

Asked to comment on the matter, the University Network for
Free and Fair Elections' coordinator, Agung Supriyo, told The
Jakarta Post on Saturday that he agreed with PPD I's plan to
implement the tough requirement.

"Such a requirement is needed and will help members of poll
watchdog organizations control the possibility of multiple ballot
casting," he said.

Djafar also said that based on a General Elections Commission
ruling, eligible voters have been allowed to register themselves
for the poll from April 18 to May 4.

Previously, the registration period was divided into three
parts: April 5 to April 12 was for voluntary registration; April
13 to April 18 was for registration officials to visit voters who
were unable to register themselves and April 30 to May 4 is an
extension for others who had not registered yet. (ind)