KPU wants secure ballot papers
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.