KPU Holds A 2020 Pilkada Simulation With Health Protocol

JAKARTA - The Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU) is holding a simulation of the 2020 Regional Head Election (Pilkada) voting at the TPS. This simulation technique is different from previous elections because it uses the COVID-19 prevention protocol.

This simulation was carried out at the KPU RI office yard, Jalan Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta. The activity, which started at 07.30 WIB, was also broadcast live on the KPU RI Facebook page.

The KPU builds tents and necessary voting equipment at the polling stations. The equipment ranges from ballot boxes, ballot papers, to personal protective equipment (PPE) used by the ranks of polling organizers (KPPS) such as masks, face shields and gloves.

In conducting the simulation, the KPU invited the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Achmad Yurianto (Yuri). Yuri became a voter and tried out the voting process.

When entering the TPS, there is a body temperature measurement using a firing thermometer. If the temperature is less than 37.3 degrees Celsius, voters are welcome to enter the TPS.

Voters who do not bring a mask will be given a mask provided. Then, voters are asked to clean their hands using a hand sanitizer.

Before receiving ballots to be punched, voters are given gloves to wear. Voters who have not received ballots sit in chairs spaced one meter apart.

In giving a sign that they have voted, voters are not allowed to dip their fingers in an ink bottle, but instead drop it by the KPPS officer. At this stage, Yuri suggested that finger immersion in the ink bottle should still be done.

"The more people involved, the more vulnerable. Therefore, maybe just prepare it like the old model is dipped. (COVID-19) will not be transmitted through ink. This virus only enters people through the airway, not through fingers," Yuri said on location.

Responding to this, KPU I Commissioner Dewa Kade Wiarsa Raka Sandi expressed his concern if voters do not want to dip their fingers for fear of contracting COVID-19. "If you vote repeatedly, is it okay? I'm afraid people don't want to dip their fingers," asked Dewa to Yuri.

"Hence, from the beginning we explained this reason so that there is no need to add more people (officers in the TPS). My advice is that," Yuri replied.

After leaving the TPS, Yuri said that there still needed to be improvements to the technical pattern of voting for the 2020 Pilkada. This was done so that the continuation of the voting process ran smoothly and safely from COVID-19 transmission.

"We are trying to find the best scenario. Later, the KPU will definitely choose a scenario after receiving technical considerations from us at the Ministry of Health. (The scenario) will be written and this will be the guideline for the regions," said Yuri.