KPU Calls The Election At The End Of The Year More Difficult Voting

KPU Building (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) Arief Budiman said that the implementation of the 2020 Pilkada voting in December had more obstacles than the predetermined time.

Initially, the vote was scheduled for September 23. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government, KPU and DPR postponed the pilkada stages, so that the voting day will be December 9.

"Holding regional elections at the end of the year is certainly not an easy matter. Because usually the national elections are held in the middle of the year considering geographical and weather conditions. But we also have no choice but to be held at the end of the year," said Arief in a virtual discussion, Friday, 11 December.

This admission was expressed by Arief after reading the evaluation of the implementation of the voting, counting, and recapitulation of the temporary elections for the 2020 Simultaneous Election.

Arief explained that a number of regions experienced problems ahead of the voting day some time ago. For example, there was a big flood in Medan, North Sumatra.

"Then in several islands, when in Masalembu and Bawean, for example, when logistics were about to be sent, there were high waves, even though the ship had been running for more than 20 minutes," said Arief.

"In the future, of course, we must pay attention to determining the date of voting, seeing a map of geographical and natural conditions, as well as the weather in Indonesia, which is our record," he added.

Apart from natural factors, the KPU also found obstacles related to the misunderstanding of organizers and voters. For example, there are still voters who exercise their voting rights based on form C from other people's notifications.

"In fact, it is not permissible to represent their voting rights by appointing other people. That still happens. Of course, evaluating is not only for the organizers, I think the public also needs to receive education in this matter," said Arief.

Then there was one region that had problems with the voting stages so that it was postponed due to a dispute over the nomination of regional heads, namely in Boven Digoel Regency, Papua.

This problem began when the KPU canceled the candidacy of Yusak Yaluwo-Yakob Weremba ten days before the vote. The reason was that the Head of the Sukamiskin Headquarters reported that Yusak was a former corruption convict.

Yusak was only released on parole on August 7, 2014 with a probation period until May 26, 2017. In fact, PKPU Number 9 of 2020 regulates that a person can only run for regional elections five years after completing a prison sentence.

"In general, there are no reports or extraordinary events. Except in Boven Digoel. I think all election organizer stakeholders, the government, TNI-Polri, community leaders, have all tried together to make the 2020 Pilkada go well, "he said.