Appreciation for the Wise Steps of the KPU Overcoming the Delay in Distribution of West Sulawesi Provincial Ballots
By: Yolanda Putriyanti *
Presidential election ballot papers and 2019 legislative candidates for West Sulawesi province began to be distributed to KPU in six districts in West Sulawesi after a week of delay. Ballots arrived at Polewali Mandar Election Office, West Sulawesi, Saturday night (03/31/2019). After receiving the ballot, the next Regency KPU will speed up the process of sorting and folding the ballots so that they can still be distributed to the polling stations on time until the day before April 17, 2019.
Due to errors in printing ballots by tender winner companies in Makassar, election logistics in the form of ballots began to be accepted by a number of district KPUs in West Sulawesi. Of the six district KPUs in West Sulawesi, the Polewali Mandar KPU is the work unit that first received ballots from PT. Adi Perkasa, Makassar.
Head of the West Sulawesi KPU, Farhanuddin explained, after Polewali Mandar, shipments from a printing press coordinated by the KPU RI would continue to Mamasa district and four other districts in West Sulawesi. Polewali Mandar became the first area to receive ballots with consideration because it was the largest area of voters. According to him, the priority stages in logistics distribution are areas that are difficult to reach, especially with vehicles.
“In accordance with regulations, one day before voting, the logistics including this ballot must already be at the polling station, so this, after sorting it will immediately proceed with folding,” said Farhan, who is also the coordinator of the West Sulawesi KPU Legal and Supervision Division.
To maximize the time left before the election, KPU Polewali Mandar has decided to increase the number of ballot folding officers. According to the Polman Election Commission member, Munawir Arifin was originally a sorting and folding of ballots of 350 people, but due to considerations of the time being more tight with the implementation of the election finally it was added to 500 people.
“The target of sorting and folding the ballots can be completed within a period of four days,” explained Munawir Arifin, who is also the coordinator of the Community Participation division, KPU Polman. To sort, fold and store ballots before being distributed to tps, especially to remote areas that are difficult to reach, besides using the National building, the Polman KPU also uses the SLB building and the Pacuan Kuda Sport Center hall building, Polewali Mandar.
Initially the KPU only planned to use one building, but due to the delay in the distribution of ballots from the printing press that had been delayed for a week, due to the issue of paper ballots not available in Makassar printing, the KPU Polman would maximize the remaining time before April 17 2019 by adding folding officers and utilizing three different buildings.
Previously, ballot printing for West Sulawesi had delayed due to a printing error from the winning printing press in Makassar, namely PT Adi Perkasa. KPU RI found several printed ballots not using paper types as arranged in the agreement and some ballots must be reprinted.
The official distribution of ballots in West Sulawesi is not the result of mismanagement by election organizers. But on the contrary as a commitment of the KPU to realize 2019 Election with integrity and quality. The existence of technical errors from the company winning the ballot printing tender was the main cause of the problem.
Quickly and wisely various strategic efforts were made by the KPU and KPUD from various levels worthy of appreciation. Full guarantee that the problem can be resolved immediately and does not cause significant obstacles in the implementation of the General Election.
The people of West Sulawesi are especially encouraged not to worry about the problem. Election organizers are very professional in overcoming technical obstacles that occur in the field. Fully ascertained that the Election will not run late. Democratic form with quality elections can be felt in West Sulawesi Province.
) * The author is a Tomakama Mamuju University Student
