PPS responsible for poll fraud: Cetro

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta

An independent poll watchdog blamed on Wednesday the high number of electoral procedure violations on the deliberate disregard of correct procedure by poll committee (PPS) members.

The Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro) said in its latest findings that the violations had paved the way for irregularities on election day, ranging from multiple voting and underage voting to the use of voter cards by people other than the card's holders.

It said that members of poll committees allowed non-registered voters to cast their votes unobserved at 31 percent (1,885) of polling stations.

In the July 5 presidential election, Cetro deployed over 13,000 watchers to 11 of the country's 32 provinces.

"An example is that members of poll committees in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, were not provided with a list of eligible voters. As a solution, they asked each of the voters to write their names on a piece of paper," Sri Budi Eko Wardhani of Cetro said at the General Elections Commission (KPU) data center.

The poll watchdog also discovered that poll committees did not enact measures to prevent voters from casting their ballots more than once.

"We found, at eight percent of polling stations monitored, voters' fingers were not inked after they voted. While at 24 percent of polling stations, organizers did not check the voters' fingers before they were given ballot papers," she said.

Poll committee officials were also blamed for allowing individuals to vote on behalf of others, especially their family members.

Poll committee members were also alleged to have intimidated voters in an effort to influence their choice.

"Our observers discovered that at 15 percent of polling stations, poll committee members were seen bullying voters," Cetro said in its written statement.

Executive director of Cetro Smita Notosusanto said the high number of violations was a reflection of the poor training of poll organizers by the General Elections Commission.

"The consistent enactment of regulations by poll organizers should have been a priority," she said.

She was quick to add that the General Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) should have been given more authority.

"Panwaslu should have been given full authority to hear reports and conduct investigations, instead of (the KPU) curtailing its role," she said.

The KPU issued a new ruling over the weekend that diminished much of the committee's power to handle electoral offenses.