N. Maluku polls in jeopardy

N. Maluku polls in jeopardy

TERNATE, North Maluku: Elections in the regency are in
jeopardy because not all ballot materials from Jakarta have
reached here, an official warned on Thursday.

Chairman of the North Maluku elections committee, Abdurahim
Fabanyo, said the materials included ballot sheets, ballot
counting forms and ink. The regency needs 408,000 ballot sheets
and only 400,400 have arrived. Ballot counting forms are yet to
arrive in the province.

Fabanyo said election officials would not distribute any
materials to the subdistricts until a full set of materials was
available.

"The delay of the vital materials may force postponement of
the June 7 elections," he told Antara.

He estimated that one week was needed for materials from the
regency capital to reach the subdistricts -- which will in turn
need another two weeks to reach polling places. Election day is
only 10 days away.