[Kabar-indonesia] JP: Fewer polling booths will mean less voters, campaigners say

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

The Jakarta Post
Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Fewer polling booths will mean less voters, campaigners say 

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang

Any reduction in the number of polling stations in the Mentawai Islands 
regional election would discourage voters from exercising their rights on Aug. 28, 
a campaigner warns.

Jono Kusma said Monday a plan to reduce the number of the polling stations to 
180, from 201 during the West Sumatra gubernatorial elections, would make it 
difficult for people in remote areas to vote. 

The head of the campaign team for current Mentawai deputy regent Antonius 
Samangilailai and running mate Panulis Saguntung said the number of stations 
should have been increased, not cut. 

"When the number of polling stations was 201 during the gubernatorial 
election, many voters had to spend one or two hours traveling to the stations and 
many people opted to stay at home," Kusma said in Padang. 

He said many of the 200 people living in Sigulukguluk hamlet on Siberut 
Island preferred to tend their crops rather than go to the nearest polling station, 
which took at least an hour to reach on foot. 

"The number of polling stations at Sigulukguluk hamlet alone should have been 
increased to enable more voters to use their rights," he said. 

Kusma's remarks were echoed by Tasmin Saogo, who chairs the campaign team of 
candidates Koranius and Immerius Sakarebau. 

"Voters at a number of hamlets on Pagai Selatan Island are frequently forced 
to go to other villagers by boat just to vote -- an action that takes only a 
few minutes," Tasmin said. 

The Mentawai chapter of the General Elections Commission (KPUD Mentawai) 
should have paid attention to this problem, he said. 

"Based on Government Regulation No. 17/2005, each polling station should have 
600 voters at the maximum ... this means that any number below that maximum 
is still OK," Kusma said. 

Voting attendance has dropped in the area since the 2004 presidential 
elections. Out of 40,142 eligible voters in the 2004 poll, 4,796 -- or 11 percent -- 
did not vote, while during the gubernatorial poll in 2005 this number rose to 
30 percent. 

KPUD Mentawai head Nuar Sababalat said Monday he understood the campaigners' 
concerns. 

However, Nuar said the numbers of polling stations were only reduced if they 
were merged into stations close to voters' homes. 

Fielding less polling stations would save on the commission's costs, and the 
decision to cut a polling booth was always made in consultation with village 
or district-office representatives, he said. 

"I admit that during earlier direct elections, the number of people who did 
not vote was high. But now, because they are voting in elections for their own 
regent, the Mentawai people are expected to be more enthusiastic," Nuar said. 

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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