KPU wants secure ballot papers
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has sparked another controversy with its plan to use ballot papers that have the same standard of security as banknotes for the presidential election.
The commission invited on Friday three security printing firms -- publicly listed Jasuindo Tiga Perkasa, PT Wahyu Abadi and the Pura Group -- to propose a design for the ballot papers.
Representatives of the companies presented their designs to KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti and members Chusnul Mar'iyah, Valina Singka Subekti and Daan Dimara.
Noerman Taufik, chief information technology architect of Jasuindo, said his company had suggested that the KPU apply technology that would help avoid the forgery of ballot papers. He said the technology would prevent any attempts to copy, scan and add color to ballot papers.
"We offer a price that is no more expensive than the price of ballot papers for the legislative election," Noerman said.
Ramlan, however, said he personally thought the ballot papers for the presidential election did not need such a high standard of security, which would only result in extra expenditure.
Only a few fake ballot papers were found by the commission ahead of the April 5 legislative election.
The printing of each 60 cm by 80.5 cm ballot paper for the legislative election cost Rp 275. Some 600 million ballot papers were printed for polls, in which people voted for three different levels of government.
Noerman said his firm proposed ballot papers measuring 30 cm by 44 cm for the presidential election, on which the names and pictures of eight pairs of presidential and vice presidential aspirants could be printed.
PT Wahyu Abadi representatives Pudjo Tjahjono, Samsuri and Bonar Tambunan refused to comment after meeting the KPU members.
However, in their presentation they proposed a number of security measures, including a hidden image, micro text and a graded relief in the background.
They suggested that the KPU use the plain paper leftover from the printing of ballot papers for the legislative election.
Some 1,600 tons of plain paper was left over from the legislative election.
The Pura Group only offered a special stamp to prevent fake ballot papers. Proposing that the ballot papers measure 30 cm by 42 cm, Pura representative Maryadi said 2,500 tons of plain paper would be required.
An estimate 150 million people will be eligible to vote in the July 5 presidential election, two million more than in the legislative election.
Maryadi said his company could start printing on June 7 after the screening of presidential and vice presidential candidates, and distribution of ballot papers could be completed by June 28.
The KPU failed to procure election materials for the legislative election on time. It also delayed the announcement of the election results by a week.
Ramlan said KPU members would report to the House of Representatives next week on the contracts of election material procurement.
"The House has ordered us to present all documents of the contracts during the hearing," he said.