Avoid Polemics, NasDem Urges KPU To Destroy Voice Letter Sent First In Taiwan

Illustration of election ballot paper (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Secretary General of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of the NasDem Party, Jakfar Sidik urged the General Elections Commission (KPU) to immediately destroy ballots that had already been sent to Indonesian citizens in the 2024 General Election in Taipei, Taiwan.

Even though the ballot was deemed invalid, Jakfar still asked the KPU to ensure the destruction of his ballot to anticipate suspicion or fraud in the 2024 presidential election.

"Volunts that have been cast out need to be destroyed so that they do not become polemics and problems in the future," Jakfar said in his statement, Tuesday, January 2.

Moreover, according to Jakfar, until now the KPU has not explained the condition of the ballot sent before the schedule, even though it has been claimed to be a damaged ballot.

"I think the KPU needs to emphasize. Because, we want to realize a jurdil election," said Jakfar.

In addition, Jakfar also asked election organizers to explain what caused the ballots that had been cast abroad. "It is necessary to investigate what the cause is." he continued.

For information, the Taipei Overseas Election Committee (PPLN) has sent a vote letter for the 2024 General Election to voters. Previously, the KPU sent a ballot to the Taipei PPLN as many as 230,307 pieces.

Of that number, as many as 175,145 ballots were sent by the KPU to PPLN Taipei intended for voters who used the postal method. Then, 31,276 of them have been sent by PPLN Taipei to voters.

The KPU only clarified to PPLN in Taipei regarding the error after it went viral or was excited on social media about a video of voters in Taiwan claiming to have received a ballot.

KPU chairman Hasyim Asy'ari revealed that the KPU had taken four actions over this error. First, the ballot that has been sent to voters in Taiwan is declared to be categorized as damaged and not taken into account.

Second, the KPU will send a replacement ballot to PPLN in Taipei according to the number that has been sent to voters before January 2, 2024. Third, ballots that have not been sent will be sent according to the schedule set, namely January 2, 2024.

Fourth, the broken ballot will be marked if it is returned to PPLN. At the same time, the replacement ballots and ballots that have not been sent will also be marked to distinguish them from the ballots that have been sent.