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.