KPU Needs to Issue More Detailed Provisions
The General Elections Commission (KPU) will issue a new circular on the procedures for people who have to change their voting address for various reasons. Related to that, the KPU should be more inclusive in helping voters exercise their rights.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS— Provisions regarding the procedures for changing voting address in the 2019 Election to be issued by the General Elections Commission (KPU) are expected to be more inclusive and detailed in order to ensure equal treatment in all regions.
The procedures must also be in line with the spirit of the Constitutional Court\'s decision to protect and safeguard citizens\' voting rights. The court on March 28 decided to extend the deadline for people to change their voting addresses from 30 days before polling day to seven days before voting.
However, the provision only applies to voters under certain conditions, namely those who are sick, affected by natural disasters, are detainees or on duty during the election day. The Constitutional Court\'s decision applies to all regions. The KPU has also issued two circular letters, on March 29 and April 1, one of which is to inform about the extension of the deadline for changing the voting address.
In the latest circular letter, the KPU added a statement "with proof of assignment letter" and "on duty during voting day" in the provisions. In some regions, the phrase "on duty” is interpreted differently. In Surabaya, East Java, employees of private companies and students are not allowed to avail of the extended deadline because they are considered to be excluded from the provisions.
As for Central Jakarta, the employees of private companies are allowed to change their voting address as long as they can show an assignment letter from their employers that they will be on duty on the voting day. The letter should be issued after March 17.
Meanwhile, in South Jakarta, some employees have submitted their notification letters. However, because polling day will be public holiday, they cannot move their voting address. Eliza Siregar, 21, a student hailing from Medan, North Sumatra, who works as an intern at a company in Jakarta, experienced this problem.
"I got information to include an assignment letter from the company. But it is pointless for me because voting day is a public holiday but I can\'t go home," she said on Friday. She could not go back to Medan because the holiday would be only one day and the cost of returning home would be also very expensive.
Inclusive
Former KPU member Hadar Nafis Gumay reminded the KPU to amend the circular on the provision for changing voting address so that it would be more inclusive. According to him, the KPU needs to embrace
as many voters as possible as long as they fall into the category of workers on duty. Thus, the provision should not strictly be interpreted as being on duty during the actual voting day, but should be based on the spirit of the Constitutional Court\'s decision to protect voting rights. The KPU as an independent institution, according to Hadar, can do that.
"So, [the phrase “on duty”] could also be interpreted that on the voting day, he or she will not be in the place where they are registered because they will have something to do related to work or school," Hadar said.
According to Hadar, concerns about fraud or voter mobilization can be anticipated by strengthening the existing system, by using ink (putting ink on a finger) to prevent voters from voting twice, or by ensuring all voters present at polling stations are listed on the form C7.
Related to this, the KPU said it would elaborate provisions in the circular letter regarding the Constitutional Court\'s decision on people who can change voting address up to seven days before the vote. "We will make a new circular letter that is more elaborative about the categories of voters who can change their voting address," said KPU member Hasyim As\'yari.
Another KPU member Ilham Saputra said that the provision on people on duty could be applied to employees of private companies. "It should be okay, as long as they have a letter of assignment. They are considered as workers on duty," Ilham said. According to him, the provisions on workers on duty do not only apply to civil servants.
Disappointed
At the offices of KPU in Central Jakarta and South Jakarta, a number of people were unable to change their voting address or obtain the A5 form even though they will not be in the areas where they are registered during polling day.
They hoped that the election organizers would loosen the rules and allow them to change their voting address. If not, they will not be able to exercise their right to vote. There should be an exemption because their residences are far way. Returning home will not only require extra costs but also time.
Bambang Handoko, 25, from Medan, thought it would not be so difficult to change his voting address, simply because he has an electronic ID card. However, as a private employee, he is also required to bring a notification letter that he will be on duty during polling day on April 17. While obtaining the notification letter from their employers will be impossible because it will be a public holiday. "I am abstaining. The travelling cost to Medan is too high. It\'s only a day. Sure, I am disappointed because I cannot use my voting rights," he said.
A member of the KPU in South Jakarta, Ahmad Barizi, said that in principle people could change their voting address, if there was something beyond their expectation that forced them to vote in other places. This also applies to students. They have the possibility to change their voting address as long as there are acceptable reasons.
"For example, a student who is assigned to carry out field studies after March 17 can meet the requirements," he said. (INK/MTK /AND/FRD/BAY/GAL)