Residents get to work before the big day

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The final 48-hour countdown for the landmark presidential election began on Saturday with residents in the capital devoting their time and energy to erecting polling stations (TPS) in their respective neighborhoods.

Some neighborhood units preferred to build polling stations in public areas, while others opted to use schools, empty houses, garages or verandas. Size does not matter, as long as the polling station can spare voters from the heat.

Residents of neighborhood unit (RT) 02, community unit (RW) 05 in Kelapa Dua subdistrict, West Jakarta, had been gathering from early in the morning on Saturday to build the TPS No. 34. Its pillars are made of bamboo poles.

Dozens of residents, including Nur Djali, supervisor of the polling station, and nine members of his team, took part in the construction work.

The modest polling station, occupying a 50-square meter plot in front of Djali's house, will be the main destination for 295 voters who will exercise their right to vote on Monday.

The government has declared election day a public holiday in a bid to encourage all eligible voters to exercise their political rights.

While Djali and his men were working, a group of women prepared tea, coffee, fruits and traditional cookies.

He said his neighborhood unit received Rp 250,000 (US$27.17) from the Jakarta General Election Commission (KPUD) to build the polling station.

"It's far from enough to buy materials," Djali said.

Therefore, the residents utilized whatever materials were available.

"We have to borrow a plastic tarpaulin from one of the residents here because if we were to buy a new one, it would cost Rp 400,000," he said, adding that to build the tent, he spent around Rp 100,000 on bamboo poles alone.

Other facilities the residents have to provide include tables, dozens of chairs, white/black boards and ropes to fence the polling station.

Tino Sumarti, a poll committee member, said she would borrow tables and chairs from residents who live around the polling station.

"During the legislative election in April, we borrowed tables and chairs from schools. But this time around, we will borrow from neighbors to save transportation expenditure," she said.

The poll committee did not collect money from residents as they had done prior to the legislative election in April.

Despite the financial constraints, Djali expressed his optimism that the poll committee would be able to organize the election well thanks to their experience in administering the legislative elections.

"This presidential election will be far more simple than the legislative elections. We know what to do," said Djali, who is a teacher at an elementary school.

His team comprises workers, traders, university students, company employees, civil servants, and security guards.

According to Djali, each member of the team received Rp 40,000 from the KPUD. He added that the KPUD promised to give another Rp 100,000 after all the work was completed.

"I don't care if we receive more money or not. I will be happy if we can organize the election smoothly," said Sumarti, the only woman in the team.

Nearly seven million eligible voters in Jakarta will cast their ballots in 26,910 polling stations.