Members of regional election committee and witnesses hold a plenary meeting on the recapitulation of the votes to elect the Jakarta governor and deputy governor at Duren Sawit district, East Jakarta, Friday (17/2). The Jakarta office of the Election Supervisory Agency opens posts to accommodate complaints from residents who could not use their rights to vote on the election day on Wednesday (15/2). Those who were not registered in the list of eligible voters will be allowed to vote in the second round of the elections.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The National Police are on high alert, known as “Siaga 1”, in the province of Banten. Such security status was taken in anticipation of possible risks after preliminary ballot counting showed a slight difference between the two candidates.
As of Friday evening, based on the scanning of C1 forms at the General Elections Commission (KPU), from the 99.53 percent data, the Wahidin Halim-Andika Hazrumy ticket won with 50.95 percent of votes. Meanwhile, Rano Karno-Embay Mulya ticket received 49.05 percent of votes. Yet, it was a preliminary result.
Given the situation, National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Syafruddin said the police had declared Banten on high alert. “Yes, it is [on high alert], we know [the vote] is about fifty-fifty,” Syafruddin said at the Office of the Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister in Jakarta on Friday.
Banten Police spokesman Adj. Comr. Zaenudin in Serang, Banten, said his office followed the decision of the National Police Headquarters. “If the National Police declare high alert, we have to follow it,” he said.
Zaenudin said there was no unrest in Banten yet. Likewise, KPU Banten chairman Agus Supriyatna said the same thing. “The election process in Banten ran smoothly. The security status is the National Police’s business, but, Banten is peaceful,” he said.
Voting rights
Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) chairwoman Asfinawati said residents who lost their voting rights on Feb. 15 could file legal action if the voting rights restriction was intentional and structured. The act of restricting voting rights is a crime.
“We must first see the reasons why residents lost their voting rights. If the residents have solid evidence that they were intentionally excluded from the voter list [DPT], they could file legal action,” he said.
The legal action would involve reporting the alleged voting restriction to the local Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu). Then, Panwaslu and Regional Elections Law Enforcement personnel would investigate the report. Any proven report could be brought to court.
Supreme Court legal and public relations head Ridwan Mansyur said the legal action was stipulated in Law No. 10/2016 on Regional Elections.
“There are stipulations that protect residents in regional elections. Anyone restricting residents from using their voting rights could face criminal charges, which was stipulated in Article 182 A Law No. 10/2016,” he said.
In the process, the police investigator will ask the plaintiff, the witnesses and the poll organizers to ensure there was intentional attempt to restrict residents from exercising their voting rights. “The preliminary process is with the investigators. If there is evidence, the case could be brought to court,” Ridwan added.
People’s Voter Education Network (JPPR) coordinator Masykurudin Hafidz said many residents were unable to exercise their voting rights due to complicated administrative problems. Several of them did not get correct information about required materials, such as presenting their identity cards in order to be able to vote.
“It was registration officers, poll organizers, administration complications and a lack of information available to the residents, which caused some residents from being unregistered or prohibited from voting,” he said.
“The government and the poll organizers must pay more attention so residents can vote. Voting rights should be guaranteed by law,” Masykurudin said.
