Ensuring Joyous Regional Elections

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Residents pray in a get-together for peaceful regional elections in Pedukuhan Nayu, Kadipiro subdistrict, Banjarsari, Solo, Central Java, Tuesday (26/6/2018). A total of 500 portions of porridge were served in the event which was held as a form of appeal for the elections to run securely, peacefully and smoothly.

“One, two, three…!” Several residents of community unit (RW) 003 in Harapan Mulya subdistrict, Medan Satria district, Bekasi, West Java, raised a tent on eight poles on Tuesday (26/6/2018). The tent would house Polling Station (TPS) 8 for Wednesday’s regional election. Taking small steps together, the residents successfully moved the 40-square-meter tent.

Polling station working committee (KPPS) head Ahmad Saripudin, 25, said that they needed to move the tent some 25 meters from its original spot on Jl. Pangeran Jayakarta in Pintu Air hamlet. At first, TPS 8 was located in front of the headquarters of an organization that was supporting certain candidates in the West Java gubernatorial election and the Bekasi mayoral election.

“To ensure voter neutrality, we needed to move the polling station,” said Ahmad.

Police mapping shows that TPS 8 and the nearby TPS 9 were in a “red zone”, which marks areas with a potential for conflict and therefore required special security measures. Apart from their proximity to the organization’s headquarters, the area’s composition of constituents is balanced.

Residents in the neighborhoods where the two TPS stand have also acted upon several strategies. They have empowered local youths to man the polling stations and to spread creative ideas and political awareness among the local residents.

Ahmad said he was aware of the great responsibility he carried and hoped that the local people would exercise their right to vote.

In distributing the invitations to voters several days ago, Ahmad ensured that all 422 eligible local voters were registered.

“We explained to the people they could vote by showing their e-ID cards and voter invitations, even if their names were not on the list of voters,” said Ahmad.

He added that RW 003 had four polling stations: TPS 7, TPS 8, TPS 9 and TPS 10. The polling stations were located within 150 meters of each other. TPS 8 and TPS 9 were the only polling stations that raised concerns over undemocratic processes, due to their proximity to the mass organization’s headquarters.

Bekasi Police chief Sr. Comr. Indarto said that two police officers, one military personnel and one community security (Linmas) personnel would stand guard at each TPS.

Enthusiasm

At TPS 9 in Bekasi’s Harapan Mulya subdistrict, KPPS head Mulki Lukmanul Karim, 27, said that things were hectic leading up to Election Day. “We have a special team to beautify the TPS in unique ways,” he said.

The TPS was set up on Monday, two days before Election Day. Work was still going on as of 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Later in the day, more youths joined in the work.

It is hoped that visually attractive polling stations would attract voters to come and cast their ballots. Thirteen election organizers and researchers from Indonesia and abroad were expected to visit the TPSs to observe the voting process. This has brought pride to the local residents.

World Cup fever

Excitement was also in the air in Bogor municipality. For instance, work was still going on to prepare TPS 19 on Tuesday evening in Sempur subdistrict, Central Bogor district. Some 60 plastic balls were painted with the flags of the countries competing in the 2018 World Cup.

“We deliberately used a World Cup theme, as everyone has World Cup fever. Furthermore, we hope that everyone will be sportsmanlike in competing in the regional election, like in soccer or other sports. All political parties must accept the result, whatever it is,” said polling station worker Ratnawati.

Ratna said that polling station workers would wear World Cup team uniforms on Election Day. She added that many local voters had also agreed to wear the shirts of their favorite soccer teams.

“We hope that the local people will be attracted to come and celebrate this democratic event. We were also informed that election observers from 28 countries will come here with [officials] from the Elections Supervisory Body [Bawaslu],” said Ratna.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

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KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Residents prepare the TPS 17 polling booth in Pagelaran village, Ciomas, Bogor regency, West Java, on Tuesday (26/6/2018). The 2018 simultaneous regional elections, which take place on Wednesday (27/6), is part of the history of the Indonesian nation’s political journey to determine its leaders.

Unity

The West Java gubernatorial election also serves as an occasion to foster unity among the residents of RW 003 in Depok Jaya subdistrict, Pancoran Mas district, Depok. The residents worked together to set up and decorate a polling station on a local sports field.

Five TPSs would be set up at the location. Similar excitement was also felt during the Depok mayoral election in December 2015.

Former RW 003 head Firmansyah, who resigned in February, was among those who initiated the idea to set up five TPSs at one location. He said the integration of the five TPSs created a sense of togetherness among the diverse local residents.

According to him, the most difficult thing was to change the local mindset that integrating the five polling stations would make it difficult for people who lived farther away, and that the supporters of rival candidates might clash.

None of these doubts were warranted. For instance, concerns over the TPS’s distance from certain neighborhoods were alleviated by using odong-odong (amusement ride for children) to pick up residents that lived far away. The service prioritized the elderly and disabled residents.

Meanwhile, concerns that clashes might erupt between rival supporters were alleviated by spreading public understanding that elections could serve as a mass gathering between neighbors. The proximity of Election Day to Idul Fitri this year had created an atmosphere of mutual forgiveness and had strengthened neighborly ties.

The local people have striven to ensure that the regional election will bring smiles to faces and strengthen the bond between them.

(RATIH P SUDARSONO/INGKI RINALDI)