Bawaslu Urges KPU to Prevent Ballot Box Damages

Jakarta, InfoPublik - Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) chair Abhan urged the Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU) to prevent the cardboard ballot box damages from water and fire.

“We must ensure the ballot boxes made from water-resistant cardboard are ready on the voting day. Tens of kilograms weight test is not enough," Abhan said in a written statement on Wednesday (12/19).

He added that it is important to ensure the quality of the ballot boxes not only on the voting day but also on the recapitulation day.

Abhan asserted that Bawaslu had carried out direct inspection on the conditions of the logistics storages across Indonesia on Dec. 15—18, 2018. It was carried out by inspecting warehouse locations, ballot box storing, and potential security disturbances at the facilities.

Meanwhile, KPU chairman Arief Budiman underlined that KPU had considered various aspects in choosing waterproof cardboard as the material of the ballot boxes for replacing aluminum. "One of the considerations is that cardboards are cheaper," he said.

Previously, a ballot box storage warehouse owned by KPU of Badung Regency, Bali, was damaged. (Translator: Erik Limantara)