Prevent Crowds At Polling Stations, The KPU Regulates The Distribution Of Time For Voters To Vote For Regional Elections

KPU / Irfan Meidianto Building (VOI)

JAKARTA - The General Election Commission (KPU) is preparing a new strategy in the 2020 Pilkada Simultaneous process to prevent crowds at polling stations (TPS). You do this by dividing each voter's time to come to vote at the TPS.

KPU commissioner Evi Novida Ginting Manik said voters would get a form C or a voting notification letter on December 9, which contained the location of the TPS along with the time of arrival.

"In this voting we have also divided the time. Even though the voting starts from 07.00-13.00, in Form C we will make a notification, for example being able to vote only from 09.00-10.00," said Evi in a virtual discussion, Wednesday, 14 October.

The distribution of voter time at TPS is intended to prevent the accumulation of voters that lead to crowds. Thus, this can reduce the spread of COVID-19.

"We will socialize it so that voters pay attention to Form C of this notification. Because all this time, the TPS is always full at 08.00-10.00. Therefore, we will share the time and be notified in the form," said Evi.

Evi said the voting process during a pandemic will be equipped with standard health protocols. One of the facilities is the provision of a place to wash hands.

"So, later all polling stations must provide a place for washing hands and soap and hand sanitizer," said Evi.

In addition, there are temperature measurements for voters who come to the polling stations, use of medical gloves for KPPS officers, plastic gloves for voters, dripping ink kits, and mandatory use of masks.

Evi said the polling stations would be sterilized prior to carrying out the process of selecting and counting votes. "Before voting began, the polling stations were sprayed at all locations. Then halfway through the trip, the polling station was emptied, we were sprayed with disinfectant again, then voting was carried out again," he explained.