Disobeying Health Protocols When Voting At TPS, Voters Can Be Prohibited From Voting

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Task Force (Task Force) Handling COVID-19 Wiku Adisasmito reminded the public to comply with health protocols when exercising their voting rights during the 2020 Pilkada elections, December 9. Stubborn voters, he said, were prohibited from voting at the polling stations (TPS).

"The Task Force asks for firm action if the voters do not enforce health discipline during the Pilkada. If the voters do not apply discipline, the organizers have the right to refuse voter participation at the TPS concerned for the sake of public safety," Wiku said in an online press conference broadcast on the YouTube account of the Presidential Secretariat. , Tuesday, December 8th.

He added that the central task force had ordered regional task forces to take firm action against all forms of violations of health protocols, including giving stern warnings to dispersing in the event of a crowd during the voting process.

Wiku also asked the public to be proactive in reporting when there were violations of health protocols in their vicinity, especially during the voting process.

"If people find violations at the polling station where they vote, the public has the right to report to their duties and ask to take firm action," he said.

Wiku reminded that the health protocol during the voting process should be a concern.

He said, the 2020 Pilkada would be said to be successful if there was no new cluster after the voting took place.

"This regional election can only be said to be successful if its implementation takes place by implementing health protocols. So that there will be no new COVID-19 transmission," said Wiku.

"The organizers are responsible for managing the elections by enforcing health protocols during the event. Ensure that all individuals in charge of wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining distance while officers are obliged to remind voters to apply health protocols in a disciplined manner," he added.

The 2020 Pilkada which will be held on Thursday, December 9 will be held in 9 provinces, 224 regencies and 37 cities.

Regarding the implementation of voting, many new things will be discovered by people holding the right to vote at polling stations (TPS) and have been designed by the General Election Commission (KPU) to prevent the occurrence of COVID-19 transmission during the voting process.

As shown on the KPU RI YouTube account, there are a number of new regulations in implementing safe voting for COVID-19 and must be followed by voters. First, voters who come to polling stations (TPS) are required to wear masks. Next, voters must maintain a safe distance.

Third, voters are required to wash their hands when they arrive at the TPS, when going to vote, and after voting at the hand washing facilities that have been provided.

Fourth, before entering the TPS, voters will have their body temperature measured. Voters with a high body temperature or more than 37.3 degrees Celsius will be invited to vote in a special voting booth.

Fifth, in order to prevent transmission through touch, voters are required to wear plastic gloves provided by the TPS committee when voting. Sixth, different from ordinary years, in the midst of this pandemic, people will no longer dip their fingers in election ink but only with a drop.

Seventh, the number of voters in one polling station will be limited to 500 people and the entire polling officer group (KPPS) will be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in the form of a mask, face shield or face shield, and gloves to prevent transmission.

The eighth rule, there should be no crowds or physical contact at the polling stations, including shaking hands and others.

Ninth, in order to prevent exposure to the virus, each TPS will be sprayed with disinfectants periodically.

Finally, the voting hours of the voters will be set and this will be stated in the Voting Notification Letter. Through this letter, there will be information on voting time and an appeal for voters to wear masks, bring pens, and personal identities such as KTPs and KTP Recording Certificates. The 2020 Pilkada voting schedule on December 9 will start tomorrow at 07.00-13.00 local time.