Local government told to prepare for polls

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Denpasar

The government has called on regional administrations across the country to take the measures necessary to ensure all eligible voters can exercise their right to vote in the presidential election scheduled for July 5.

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno conveyed the message during a coordination meeting with the governors of Bali and West Nusa Tenggara, and mayors and regents from the two provinces.

"We should regard voter registration in the legislative election in April as a valuable lesson. Registration is one of the most difficult stages in preparing for an election," he told the meeting here on Saturday.

State Secretary Bambang Kesowo and State Intelligence Body (BIN) chief A.M. Hendropriyono were also in attendance.

The home minister also suggested that the local administrations prepare for a lengthy period of work due to the possibility of a runoff on Sept. 20.

Of 148,000,369 registered voters, almost 16 percent did not participate in the legislative election, because many had not been reregistered as eligible voters by the General Elections Commission (KPU).

With regard to the distribution of poll materials for the presidential election, the minister urged local administrations to assist the KPU in delivery of ballot papers and indelible ink to polling stations.

Th KPU was forced to delay voting in some areas in Papua, Aceh and East Nusa Tenggara because it failed to distribute ballot papers on time.

The commission blamed difficult terrain and bad weather for the delayed vote at 513 polling stations in seven of 20 regencies in Papua, and security concerns for the postponement in war-torn Aceh.

The government issued a regulation in lieu of law to anticipate election delays as a result of the logistical problems. The regulation amended the election law, which says a delay is permissible in the event of riot, natural disaster or security disturbance.

Hari said that the central government would issue a guideline that would allow the local administrations to use emergency funds from the regional budget to distribute election materials.

To ensure accountability in regional budget expenditure, he said, the government would assign the inspector general in each local government, plus accountants, to audit the expenditure.

Hari, who is also the interim coordinating minister for political and security affairs, asserted that vote counting would be crucial in the presidential election.

In contrast to the legislative election, in which the value of a vote varied from one electoral district to another, a vote in the presidential election has the same value anywhere in the country.

"Vote counting must be done accurately because a vote can determine the election result," he said.

To win the presidency a candidate must garner more than 50 percent of the total vote. The vote in at least 17 provinces may not be less than 20 percent.

If no contender manages to secure an outright majority, the top two candidates will contest a runoff.

Hari called on all state officials intending to join the campaign team of a presidential candidate to inform their superiors and take leave.

A governor must seek permission from the President via the home minister, while a regent or mayor must similarly obtain permission from the home minister via the governor.