Community Enthusiasm To Participate In Pilkades Simultaneously 60 Villages In Batanghari Regency

Residents of Tebing Tinggi Village cast their votes in the Village Head Election in Tebing Tinggi Village, Batanghari Regency, Jambi Province/Antara

BATANGHARI - As many as 60 villages in Batanghari Regency, Jambi Province, Thursday, held simultaneous village head elections (pilkades).

"Today, the Pilkades are held simultaneously. The logistics for the Pilkades one day before the polls have been distributed to TPS, such as ballots and booths and other logistics," said Head of the Batanghari Regency Community and Village Empowerment Service (PMD), Arif Budiman in Batanghari, as reported by Antara, Thursday, October 21.

A total of 60 villages that will carry out the simultaneous Pilkades in 2021 are spread across eight sub-districts in the area, namely in Muara Bulian, Bajubang, Pemayung, Maro Sebo Ilir, Muara Tembesi, Batin XXIV, Mersam and Maro Sebo Ulu sub-districts.

Of the 60 villages that carried out the Pilkades, there were 84,085 permanent voter lists (DPT) that would distribute their voting rights at 274 polling stations spread over 60 villages.

Arif Budiman explained that the ballots prepared for the Pilkades were 86,187 ballots. The number of ballots is in accordance with the number of DPT plus 2.5 percent of the total number of DPT as backup ballots in case of damage to the ballots.

The simultaneous Pilkades was held from 07.30 WIB to 14.00 WIB.

The Chairperson of the Voting Committee (PPS) in Tebing Tinggi Village, Pemayung District, Tarmizi, said that until 14.00 WIB, the voting for the village head was closed. If it is past 14.00 WIB then residents are no longer allowed to cast their votes.

"The implementation of the Pilkades in Tebing Tinggi Village went smoothly, safely and in an orderly manner, and the community was quite enthusiastic about participating in the implementation of the Pilkades," said Tarmizi.

Because it is still in the COVID-19 pandemic, the simultaneous Pilkades in Batanghari Regency is carried out by implementing the COVID-19 health protocol, including the application of 4M, wearing masks, washing hands, avoiding crowds and keeping a distance.