Detained By Central Policy, Riau Islands KPU Has Not Pocketed Population Data

KPU logo illustration. (Between)

KEPRI - The central government's one-door policy has made the General Election Commission (KPU) of the Riau Islands Province (Kepri) unable to obtain population data.

A member of the Riau Islands KPU, Priyo Handoko, admitted that his party had difficulty getting population data from the relevant agencies. This was conveyed by Priyo during the Sustainable Voter Data Coordination Meeting for the first semester of 2022 at a hotel in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, Tuesday, July 5.

"We have tried (to ask for population data), but the Population Service cannot fulfill it because it is related to the one-stop-shop policy from the center. We understand this condition," he said.

Priyo said that the KPU RI and the Minister of Home Affairs had signed a memorandum of understanding regarding population data, which became the basis for determining voter data.

"In the near future, the data will be distributed by the Minister of Home Affairs to the KPU," he said, according to Antara.

The Riau Islands KPU ranks continuously update voter data every month since May 2021. The data verification process is based on various primary information sources, including the findings of officers in the field.

"In fact, I asked the ranks of the Regency and City KPU to ask for data from the mosque management if there were residents who died," he said.

Currently, he said, the continuous voter data collection process was not running smoothly. There is even a term that district and city KPUs in Indonesia are experiencing a continuous shortage of voter data for the purposes of the 2024 election.

This is because the agency authorized to administer population data is reluctant to provide the data due to central policy.

"Like it or not, we have to keep moving," he said.

On that occasion, Priyo asked for input from political parties participating in the 2019 General Election to improve the quality of voter data.

"We invite the organizers of the parties participating in the 2019 General Election to participate in correcting and providing input regarding the voter data," said Priyo.

He revealed that the number of continuous voters in the Riau Islands which will be determined tomorrow is 1.1 million people. However, the data will continue to change until it enters the stage of permanent voter data.

Population mobility and changes in population conditions in districts and cities in Riau Islands affect sustainable voter data. The movement of voter data continues as the population changes from personal to family.

For example, officers must determine the number of novice voters from the SMA side. Then the officers must also work with the RT or RW to find out new residents and residents who have died.

"Changes in social status also affect voter data, such as retiring members of the National Police and TNI, or conversely, there are residents who graduate as members of the TNI and Polri," he said.

Regional Secretary of the Riau Islands Perindo Party Management, Novyanti, is concerned about the condition of the Riau Islands KPU ranks in obtaining population data for the sake of continuing voter data.

"I'm sad to hear that KPU officers have to go in and out of foundations to get voter data," he said.

Novy asked the KPU and the Population Service to work together to present quality voter data. "Don't let any voter's rights be decapitated due to not being recorded," he concluded.