Election Commission Pushes for New Electoral Law
Jakarta. Pramono Tanthowi, a newly elected commissioner for the General Election Commission, or KPU, said on Thursday (06/04) the commission is already preparing for the 2019 general election even though it is still more than two years away, including pushing for the ratification of a new electoral law.
"There's no time to relax," he said, adding that the commission will continue providing input on the new general election bill currently being deliberated by lawmakers.
The KPU will start issuing subsidiary regulations once the bill is passed into law.
Pramono said the commission will also simplify ballot designs for the 2019 elections.
He reminded that in 2009, the voting system had changed from punching holes to ticking the provided options in the ballots. The election ended up with many illegitimate ballots since voters found the ballot design too complicated and confusing.
"The goal is simple, let's not confuse the voters," Pramono said.
The new batch of KPU and Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) commissioners were confirmed in the early hours of Wednesday, following a series of fit and proper tests conducted by members of the House of Representatives Commission II, which oversees home affairs.
The House commission confirmed seven out of 14 KPU commissioners proposed by the government.
Five out of 10 Bawaslu commissioners were also confirmed.
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