KPU's next challenge

KPU's next challenge

So far, six pairs of presidential and vice presidential
hopefuls are to compete in the July 5 election, barring a
possible change when the General Elections Commission (KPU)
finalizes the lineup next week.

The public are focusing again on the commission, which faces
another enormous task -- to prepare for the first direct
presidential election in the nation's history.

Being the first-ever independent body to organize a nationwide
legislative election, the KPU can be forgiven for its below-par
performance in the poll. After all, this year's elections have
been described by observers as one of the most complex polls in
the world, comprising three possible elections in a span of five
months under a totally new system. The system notwithstanding,
the country's enormous size, huge population and difficult
geography are in themselves a formidable challenge.

Flaws afflicting the legislative election ran long like a
dirty laundry list. The late arrival of ballot papers, especially
in far-flung areas, forced some regions to hold the poll later
than April 5. Electoral law violations and other irregularities
led to election reruns in 500 polling stations and ballot
recounts in more than 1,800. There have been a litany of poll-
related complaints from unregistered voters casting their votes,
voters voting twice and the forgery of voting cards.

However, it's fair to say the number of problems was dwarfed
by the number of successes, 2,300 out of a total of 600,000
polling stations nationwide. The multi-vote, multi-tier
legislative election is also likely to be judged more complex
than the next presidential election where voters will only have
to punch papers once for the candidate pair they choose.

The low number of valid votes, about 113.5 million from 124
million actual voters, in the legislative election was due in
part to confusion over how to vote in the new system.

While the next election may be simpler, the presidential
elections with their focus on individual personalities, could be
more explosive as people tend to be emotional when high-profile
candidates are defeated. Voters deserve praise for having
conducted last month's legislative election relatively peacefully
but violence cannot be ruled out this time around.

It would not be over the top, therefore, to ask the KPU to
exercise the utmost care in handling the presidential election.
Too much is at stake in this election in a nation just freed from
the yoke of two successive dictatorships. Violence could stem
from opposing ideologies, conflicts of interest and from the lure
of power. If these elections failed, the risks to the nation
would be great.

Worryingly, some flaws in the presidential election process
have already surfaced. The final registration of presidential and
vice presidential aspirants has been postponed to the second week
of this month, a week later than the initial schedule. The KPU
has acknowledged it could also have problems with the
distribution of election materials.

Early campaigning, a constant irritant in the legislative
election, is now occurring again. Several presidential aspirants
have been advertising themselves in the print and electronic
media or holding fund-raising activities. All the while, the KPU
is being kept on the sidelines, unable to take any action. It
says the electoral law, which sets out sanctions against official
candidates, only comes into effect next week.

Indicative of what the future may hold, legislative candidates
who stood trial for early campaigning were mostly handed lenient
sentences.

In addition, the registration period for election monitors --
more than 20 have already registered -- has been delayed for two
weeks from the initial schedule of April 30 through May 15, to
May 15 through June 15.

During the legislative election, the KPU website was hacked
into despite huge spending on a security system. The KPU should
make sure this does not happen again. Otherwise, people will
again question the soundness of its judgment to spend Rp 152
billion (US$17.5 million) on the project.

The KPU also has to set up guidelines for presidential
debates, although debating is not compulsory for candidates. It
has to print electoral leaflets, fliers and posters to educate
the public about the election. It will have to appoint companies
to prepare ballot papers, film negatives, ballot-counting forms
and envelopes. A massive amount of paper ranging from 4,000 tons
to 7,000 tons will be needed.

The KPU also has to prepare for voter registrations, the
distribution of election information and the screening of
candidates.

Taking cues from the problems in the legislative election, the
KPU should have learnt which companies are best at creating
electoral materials, should avoid using indelible ink that
allegedly caused skin irritation and should follow its deadlines
as closely as possible. It should also be more transparent in its
dealings with the public.

An estimated 150 million people will be eligible to vote in
the presidential election, 2 million more than in the legislative
one.

The burden lies on the KPU.