The danger of elections delay

With the general election just 60 days away, it is understandable that even an official at the General Elections Commission (KPU) is concerned the April 5 elections may have to be delayed.

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said on Monday that whichever of the 20 consortia bidding to print the 600 million ballots for the elections would be unable to meet the Feb. 1 deadline to begin the printing, and asked that the deadline be moved back to Feb. 5. The deadline was then pushed back even further to Feb. 8, as the KPU still had not selected a tender winner as of Wednesday afternoon.

According to Surbakti, there are also major concerns about the ability to meet the March 5 deadline for the procurement and delivery of 2.19 million aluminum ballot boxes for regencies and municipalities across the country.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the commission is facing an emergency, and if it rigidly refuses to alter its standard operating procedures the elections are in danger of delay.

The delivery of elections material to thousands of remote islands throughout the archipelago is a massive logistical task, in terms of elections probably among the most difficult organizational jobs in the world.

Therefore, the commission must make as much haste as legally tolerable. This may mean shortening a few procedures, which could cause its own controversy, all aimed at ensuring the timely production and delivery of ballots, ballot boxes and all other necessary materials for the elections.

We respect the determination and integrity of the KPU members and executives, comprising non-governmental organization activists and academics. They have made some unwise decisions, like the purchase of relatively expensive official cars and overseas trips to meet with the comparatively few Indonesian voters living abroad, but overall they are doing a commendable job.

They have clearly followed the principles of good governance in the tenders for the ballots and ballot boxes. It is difficult to fault them for their stubborn refusal to "bend" the procedures governing the tenders, considering the amount of public scrutiny they are under. They do not want to bypass regulations to accelerate the procurement and delivery of elections materials, only to find themselves accused of corruption.

Still, we urge the KPU to take all necessary measures to ensure the general election takes place as planned, because after the April 5 elections, we still face the country's first direct presidential election on July 5, with a possible runoff on Sept. 20.

Such necessary measures would include the appointment of local companies to produce elections materials, even if this means ballots or ballot boxes that are less than perfect in terms of their quality.

These emergency actions must be supported by the political parties contesting the elections, the public and the press. We cannot make demands of this type on the KPU without supporting it or waiting to cry foul when mistakes are made. We must allow the commission to take drastic action, so long as it is in the public's interest.

No less important is flexibility from those donors financing the production and disbursement of ballots and ballot boxes. While donors have every right to ensure their money is spent according to the agreements they signed with the KPU or the government, some flexibility on their part would help accelerate the process.

Many of us tend to take a "no worries" stance, saying we will fix the problems as they come up. But at this point a "Plan B" is urgently required. Let us help the KPU by supporting the commission to take faster and better steps to overcome all remaining problems in the few weeks left before this crucial event for the country.