Kendari voters lacked papers

Kendari voters lacked papers

UNAAHA, Southeast Sulawesi: At least 10,000 residents of
Kendari regency had not voted on poll day because they lacked
identity papers, Antara reported on Friday.

Most of the residents were land tillers who had voluntarily
joined transmigration programs, an executive of the regional
elections committee, Soeparno, said.

The General Elections Commission had said any form of identity
could be used for the voter registration process, such as
marriage certificates or driving licenses.

Soeparno said many refugees fleeing the violence in Maluku had
come to find work in the area, and had not brought essential
documents with them. Many migrants were also afraid to vote,
thinking they would be exposed to questioning by officials, he
said.

At least 200 people of the Bajau sea community also did not
vote because they were at sea.

There were 240,086 registered voters in the regency with a
population of 427,398 people in 540 villages of 18 districts.