KPU launches computerized tabulation
KPU launches computerized tabulation
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The General Elections Commission (KPU) launched on Sunday the
first ever computerized tabulation of legislative elections here,
with the first preliminary results of the polls in major cities
expected to appear at 8 p.m. on Monday.
KPU member Chusnul Mar'iyah said the ballot count would be
updated every hour.
"We expect to announce the initial results from major cities
like Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan by 8 p.m. on Monday as they have
the necessary technology to do this," Chusnul told a press
conference.
Balloting is slated to start at 7 a.m. and close at 1 p.m. in
all polling stations across the country, except for some areas
where the elections look certain to be delayed.
"Each polling station then submits the data on the results of
the count to the subdistrict election commission, which will then
compile all the data and forward it to Jakarta," Chusnul said.
She said that for data collection purposes, computers had been
installed in 5,400 out of the 5,552 subdistricts across the
country.
Each subdistrict elections commission has two computers
installed for the count, except for those in Jakarta, where each
local commission has between seven and nine computers.
Over 150 subdistrict election commissions will not be using
computerized tabulation as electricity or telephone lines are not
available in those areas to support the system.
KPU information and technology expert Basuki Suhardiman said
the computerized tabulation would be completed on April 19.
Despite the computerized tabulation, the results of the manual
ballot count would still be considered the official result of the
polls.
In the 1999 election, the official results came after 68 days.
This year, the KPU expects to be able to announce the results on
April 25 -- 20 days after polling day.
Basuki said the KPU electronic data processors were able to
receive data from 700 subdistricts at the same time, but this
could be increased to 1,000 subdistricts if necessary.
He further said state telecommunications firm PT Telkom had
given assurances that the lines would be free from disruption
during the tabulation process.
To protect the system, Basuki said his team had put several
security measures in place to thwart hackers and other technical
problems.
A help desk has been opened at the Borobudur Hotel in Central
Jakarta, and will be staffed 24 hours per day.