A Total Of 250 People Were Involved In The Positive Regional Elections For COVID-19

JAKARTA - Election activist, Wahidah Suaib explained the results of data collection which showed that 250 people tested positive for COVID-19 while undergoing the 2020 Pilkada stages.

On that basis, this former member of the Election Supervisory Agency for the 2008-2012 period asked the government, the General Election Commission (KPU), and the DPR to postpone the election stages.

"The large number of parties involved in the pilkada and positive for COVID-19 is a fact that should be a lesson in postponing this election," Wahidah said in a webinar discussion, Tuesday, September 22.

In his notes, there were 60 prospective regional heads who tested positive for COVID-19 as of September 10.

Then there were 163 Bawaslu ranks who tested positive for COVID-19. "Those who were exposed started from the Bawaslu RI secretariat, district to village election supervisory committees. Some even became clusters in Boyolali," Wahidah explained.

Furthermore, 21 KPU RI staff were confirmed positive for COVID-19. Added by the Chairman of the KPU RI Arief Budiman, two KPU Commissioners, the Chairperson of the Riau KPU, the Chairperson of the South Sulawesi KPU, and the KPU Papua Commissioner.

"As we are worried about, we predict that the elections that are imposed in the midst of a pandemic will cause alarming facts," explained Wahidah.

Wahidah asked the government, KPU, and Bawaslu to pay attention to the safety and comfort of election administrators and supervisors at lower levels who work in the field.

"Maybe for the KPU RI, the Bawaslu RI, who works in the air-conditioned room not torturing him too much. However, election organizers in the midst of a pandemic at the village and sub-district level, using personal protective equipment such as masks cause discomfort," he explained.

Wahidah also asked the organizing authority for this election to pay attention to the concerns of the families of all parties involved in the 2020 Pilkada stages. It is feared that the transmission of COVID-19 when carrying out the election stages will also spread to families who are in one house.

"Therefore, the election is not only safety but also comfort in carrying out its duties. The General Election Commission should not become a general torture commission," he said.