KPU Designs Stronger Voice Boxes For The 2024 Election

Examples of Election Voice Boxes displayed in work meetings in the DPR/Screenshot via ANTARA

The General Election Commission (KPU) designed a stronger ballot box to be used on voting day for the 2024 General Election on February 14, 2024.

"In principle, the design is in terms of specifications, we will strengthen (the vote box) compared to the timing of the 2019 General Election," said KPU member Yulianto Sudrajat at the Hearing Meeting (RDP) held by Commission II of the DPR as reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 29.

With a stronger design, the KPU hopes that the 2024 Election ballot box can be stronger and more resilient from the various potential damages that exist.

The 2024 Election ballot box draft has been regulated in detail by the KPU in the Draft KPU Regulation (PKPU) concerning Voting Equipment, Other Equipment Support, and Other Voting Equipment in the General Election presented by Yulianto in the RDP.

Yulianto said that in regulating stronger ballot boxes for the 2024 General Election, the Indonesian KPU regulates changes in the thickness of several ballot boxes.

Among other things, the KPU changed the thickness of the outside of the ballot box made from the mixed complex coated material, from 200 grams thickness per square meter in the 2019 Election to 250 grams per square meter for the 2024 General Election.

"In the 2019 election, the thickness of the outer side of the doublex coated 200 grams per square meter, then for the 2024 election we increased 50 to 250 grams per square meter. So, it will be stronger," said Yulianto.

In addition, the KPU strengthened the inside of the ballot box made of cardboard kraft material, from a thickness of 200 grams per square meter in the 2019 Election to 275 grams per square meter for the 2024 General Election.

"Next, because there are additional specifications to strengthen the box, in the past (2019 election) the volume box weighs 2.06 kilograms. For the 2024 election, it will be 2.26 kilograms. Then, the carrying capacity is still the same at 20'30 kg," added Yulianto.

In addition to changing the thickness of the outside and inside, the KPU regulates changes in the size of the ballot box window or transparent part in the middle of the ballot box.

The KPU reduced the width and height of the ballot box window which in the 2019 Election was 20 centimeters wide and 25 centimeters high to 17 centimeters wide and 20 centimeters high for the 2024 General Election.

According to Yulianto, the size of the ballot box window was reduced because based on research conducted by his party it was found that the wider the transparent part in the ballot box, this would further reduce the strength of the ballot box.

"It is reduced so that the strength of the box becomes more because the transparent part is wider, it further reduces its strength," he said.