KPU registers fifty percent of eligible voters for poll

JAKARTA (JP): Entering the third week of voter registration, the General Elections Commission (KPU) has registered 50 percent of the 130 million eligible voters.

Commission chairman Rudini said as of Tuesday, nine provinces had registered at least 70 percent of voters in each of the regions. Registration is to end on May 4.

Based on data released by KPU, the nine provinces were North Sumatra with 5,358,391 registrants or 83.19 percent of total eligible voters in the area; West Sumatra 2,578,658 or 97.8 percent; Jakarta 6,390,000 or 81.65 percent; West Java 18,697,194 or 70 percent; Central Java 14,475,878 or 70 percent; East Java 19,376,904 or 80 percent; Bali 1,971,835 or 90 percent; South Sulawesi 4,766,058 or 98.99 percent and Southeast Sulawesi 662,399 or 74.05 percent.

Rudini said the commission had yet to receive data from Irian Jaya and East Timor.

"There's also a delay in the West and East Sumatra provinces, as many people there were not informed about the location of registration offices and the registration forms were sent to wrong destinations."

Forms intended for delivery to East Nusa Tenggara were instead sent to West Nusa Tenggara, he said.

Rudini said he would check on voter registration activities outside Java with the minister of home affairs on Thursday.

"I will visit East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and Ujungpandang (in South Sulawesi)," the retired general said.

The commission also revealed that as of Tuesday, only 20 percent out of 2,315,244 eligible voters in Aceh had registered. In Riau, only 20 percent or 517,995 voters had registered.

"I will also check on provinces which were hit by unrest. I do not know exactly the source of the problem of limited participation in areas such as Aceh or Riau. But I believe it is mostly because of technical difficulties."

He said the deadline for the registration of legislative candidates had been extended from April 27 to May 4, mostly due to technical difficulties.

"Many people are still confused about the criteria for legislative candidates set by the new political law. And low- ranking officials have too little time to explain and promote it."

He cited circulating misinformation that candidates have to submit a doctor's certificate testifying they were mentally healthy.

"This is ridiculous," Rudini said. (edt)