KPU ready for local poll after July 2005

JAKARTA: Due to technical constraints, the General Elections Commission (KPU) will be ready to organize direct polls for governor, mayor and regent only after July next year, a commission member says.

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said the commission, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and the Ministry of Home Affairs were currently developing an integrated voters registration system that would serve as a database of voters at individual provinces and regencies or municipalities.

"We expect to complete the system before July next year. Thus far, we have successfully built the system in 17 regencies and municipalities," he told a press briefing on Thursday. -- JP