Candidate Pairs Must Have Repeat Swab Test When Drawing Pilkada Serial Number

Illustration / KPU Building (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The determination of candidate pairs and serial numbers in the 2020 simultaneous regional elections will be carried out on September 23. The Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU) requires prospective pairs of candidates to take a COVID-19 swab test before attending the local KPU office.

This COVID-19 examination is a requirement that was applied during the registration period for chameleons on September 4 to 6.

"At the registration yesterday, we already obliged prospective pairs of candidates to swab. Later, it is the same as when we carry out the mechanism for determining and drawing serial numbers," said KPU Commissioner Ilham Saputra during a joint hearing with DPR RI, Monday, September 21.

Later, prospective pairs of candidates who will be appointed as candidate pairs directly at the regional KPU office must ensure that their swab test results are negative for COVID-19.

"Later, we have to make sure that they are negative first before they come to the serial number draw," said Ilham.

Meanwhile, if one of the pairs of candidates is declared positive, the serial number of the pair of candidates concerned will follow the next serial number, after the serial number of the pair of candidates has been determined according to the schedule and stages.

Ilham claimed that his party had arranged in such a way that the health protocol for the drawing of candidate pairs was ensured by all candidate pairs.

"Before drawing a pair of candidates, we called a team from each pair of candidates not to mobilize masses to avoid confusion," said Ilham.