As many of us were sleeping soundly, polling station workers remained committed to their duty, which consumed their energy, time and finances. Some even died on duty, all for the sake of a smooth 2019 election.
Early on Thursday (18/4/2019), workers were still busy tabulating votes at Polling Station (TPS) 108 in Cijantung subdistrict, Pasar Rebo district, East Jakarta. “[Legislative candidate] no. 2 of the PKS [Prosperous Justice Party], no. 4 of Gerindra, no. 1 of Nasdem and no. 1 of the PDI-P [Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle],” shouted polling station worker Lie Syarifudin. Another worker added the votes to the tally on the C1 Form attached to a wooden board.
Lie continued, shouting out the results of every ballot opened. When he got tired, another worker took his place. Amid the seemingly unending task, the workers encouraged one another, often cracking jokes to unwind. The tabulation finally ended on Thursday at 1 a.m.
With 207 voters at the TPS, the workers tabulated the results from 828 ballots. The 2019 election involved five ballot types: for the president and VP, the House of Representatives, the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), the provincial legislative council (DPRD) and the municipality/regency legislative council. In Jakarta, the election involved only four types of ballots, as the capital has no municipality-level legislative council.
“Finally, it is finished,” said Yulianti, 52, another worker at TPS 108, when the last results were tabulated at 1 a.m. They just realized by then that they had been working for 19 hours straight from Wednesday (17/4) at 6 a.m.
People’s celebration
Before the TPS was opened at 7 a.m., they had to prepare the election materials. Yulianti was up at 4 a.m. to prepare meals for the polling station working committee (KPPS) members, TPS supervisors and witnesses. “The election is a celebration for the people. We need to celebrate this, as it occurs only once every five years,” he said.
At TPS 025 in East Pondok Jagung subdistrict, North Serpong district, South Tangerang, Banten, KPPS members only finished their work on Thursday at 6:30 a.m. As many of them were exhausted, their concentration dropped, slowing down the vote tabulation.
At such moments, less fatigued KPPS members reminded their colleagues to avoid any mistakes in the tabulation.
Other than counting the votes, workers at TPS 221 at the Bina Marga Harapan Sentosa social care home in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, worked extra hard in guiding voters with mental disabilities.
Junaedi, 40, a KPPS member at TPS 221, said he had no difficulties in guiding such voters. The principle is to ensure people with mental disabilities can exercise their right to vote.
Many of them only need guidance on unfolding and refolding the ballots. “Even if we are tired, we are satisfied. They can take part in the election smoothly,” Junaedi said.
Dying on duty
In Malang and Bogor, KPPS members reportedly died from exhaustion while on duty. In East Luwu, South Sulawesi, two KPPS members fainted due to a lack of sleep from early Wednesday to early Thursday.
At TPS 9 in Mantren hamlet, Kabat village/district, Banyuwangi, East Java, a political party witness died on duty. Meanwhile, several KPPS members in Rappocini district, Makassar, South Sulawesi, fell ill due to a lack of rest. One KPPS member in Mappala subdistrict in the district suddenly lost consciousness after completing the C1 Form.
In Bandung, police officer Adj. First Insp. M Saifudin died, reportedly from exhaustion, after helping in the distribution of ballots and guarding the election. Saifudin had expressed fatigue but continued with his duty of watching the ballot distribution to several TPS.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said nine police personnel had died while on duty in the 2019 election. “All the deceased personnel are to be given a posthumous one-level promotion for their dedication in carrying out their duties to ensure safety, peace and public order during the 2019 election,” he said.
Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) executive director Titi Anggraini suggested that the design of the simultaneous election be evaluated, considering the burden for polling station workers tabulating votes. “[Election] organizers are forced to work beyond what their bodies are capable of doing on voting day,” she said.
Titi added that the election should be held without placing an extreme burden on KPPS members. This meant a higher budget and hiring more workers. (DVD/GIO/FAI/FRD/DIV/OKA/TAM/SYA