'I'll pick the party with the most eye-catching logo'

'I'll pick the party with the most eye-catching logo'

Today Indonesians will vote for who is to represent them in
legislative institutions, the first round of the country's
democratic elections. Many people have complained the current
political campaigns have lost their festive mood, unlike in
previous elections. The Jakarta Post asked some residents how
eager they were to go to the polling stations today.

Janni, 27, is a worker for a private banking firm in Jl.
Sudirman, South Jakarta. She lives in Setiabudi, also in South
Jakarta:

I will exercise my voting rights on Monday because I have been
registered as a voter in the area where I live, although I
originally come from Bandung.

I think it would be a waste if I didn't vote because this only
happens once every five years. However, I'm not sure which party
I am going to give my vote to because I don't know much about
their different policies.

Probably I will choose the party that has the most eye-
catching logo with my favorite colors. I don't really care about
their visions for the country or their platforms. One vote won't
change the country's situation, will it?

Eldi Malayu, 52, is a taxi driver. He will cast his vote at
the polling station in Ciledug, Tangerang, the area where he
lives:

I don't have much enthusiasm to vote like other people. It's
more like something you have to do because others do it as well.
I don't think that my vote will make much difference because none
of the current ruling parties have done anything to improve the
country.

But I will vote anyway, as I still have hope the party who
will win the majority of votes will listen to us.

I'll vote for a party whose ideological platform is based on
nationalism, not religion. Politics based on religion would only
cause more chaos in this multi-religious country.

Hetih, 27, is working as an editor for a publishing company in
Palmerah, Central Jakarta. She lives in Jl. Gajah Mada in Central
Jakarta:

I have never failed to exercise my voting rights before and I
will also vote this time. I am doing it just because I want to,
not because it's mandatory.

However, I haven't decided yet which party I am going to vote
for since I don't have any "favorite" political party. Maybe I
will decide the day before the general elections.

Risma, 21, is a student of a private university in Central
Jakarta, majoring in literature. Originally from Medan, the
capital of North Sumatra, she rents a room in Pejompongan, also
in Central Jakarta.

This would be my first time voting but I don't have a voter
card because I'm not registered here, so I will skip this round
of the elections. But I will vote in the presidential election.

If I did go to the polling station on Monday, I would take
more than 30 minutes in the booth because I have no idea which
party or legislative candidates deserve my vote.

--The Jakarta Post