Less materials delay polls

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The election was delayed at several polling stations here because of a lack of polling material such as ballot paper, stamps and indelible ink.

At Mandala housing estate, hundreds of potential voters were stranded as the committee said they had to wait for more ballot papers and stamps. Stamps were also lacking in at least three other stations and delayed the poll by an hour.

In the Sekip subdistrict where stamps were lacking, officials finally reached a compromise of sticking stamps only on the ballot papers for the House of Representatives. It is not clear yet whether the ballot papers without stamps for the regional and provincial legislative bodies will be valid. (41)