KPU Guarantees 9.304 ODGJ Voting Rights In DIY In The 2024 General Election

YOGYAKARTA - The General Election Commission (KPU) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) guarantees the voting rights of 9,304 people with mental disabilities or people with mental disorders (ODGJ) in a number of areas in this province in the 2024 election.

Coordinator of the Socialization Division, Voter Education, Community Participation, and KPU DIY HR Sri Surani said the thousands of people with mental disabilities had been registered on the permanent voter list (DPT) in five districts/cities in DIY.

"It's not the ones who lose consciousness. Of course, when collecting data, they are still able to use their minds," Rani said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 2.

Rani ensured that the determination of the DPT for ODGJ had gone through matching and research by voter data updating officers (panterlih) in accordance with the identity card (KTP).

According to Rani, the fulfillment of ODGJ's voting rights is based on Supreme Court Decision Number 135/PUU-XIII/2015 concerning the granting of voting rights for people with mental disorders or ODGJ.

"We don't know his identity (ODGJ) on the streets. What is certain is that the data collection is based on ID cards," he said.

To oversee their voting rights, the DIY KPU has provided technical guidance (bimtek) to polling group officers (KPPS) in five districts/cities who are ready to provide assistance to them.

"Similarly, in the process of bringing medicines that can be consumed by friends (mental disabilities) later we will give them to the assistant," he said.

According to Rani, the ODGJs can also be accompanied by people or their closest family when voting at the ballot booth on February 14, 2024.

For ODGJ voters who live in rehabilitation centers accompanied by orphanage or foundation administrators during the vote.

"It can be accompanied by KPPS, or it could also be someone or the closest family. Later there will be a commitment form to become a companion who is ready to maintain confidentiality," he said.

Based on data from the DIY KPU, it was recorded that the Permanent Voter List (DPT) for the 2024 General Election of the DIY KPU was 2,870,974 voters, consisting of 1,473,875 female voters and 1,397,099 men.

Of the total number of DPT, the total number of disabled voters reached 30,503 people consisting of 12,996 physical disabilities, 1,553 people with intellectual disabilities, 9,304 people with mental disabilities.

Next, there were 2,603 people with sensory disabilities, 1,178 people with hearings, and 2,869 people with visual sensory disabilities.

"We guarantee assistance in fulfilling their voting rights in accordance with their various disabilities," said Rani.