Jakarta. Measures to introduce e-voting for the 2019 presidential and legislative elections are being considered by some in the government, an official said on Monday (29/08).

Soedarmo, director general of politics and general government at the Home Affairs Ministry, said the plan had been discussed between several ministries under the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security.

Speaking in Jakarta on Monday morning, Soedarmo tipped implementation for the 2019 election, but noted the government is yet to make a decision.

He claimed e-voting eliminates fraud and can return a credible result within minutes.

The Constitutional Court received over 700 electoral fraud lawsuits following the 2014 election, with most cases rejected citing a lack of evidence.

Soedarmo said the Philippines implemented e-counting for its elections in 2010 and Indonesia should look to engaging the technology.

Election Organizers Ethics Council (DKPP) chairman and constitutional law expert Jimly Asshiddiqie said e-voting must be strongly regulated before becoming law.

“If the e-voting has been ruled in the law, we must to break it down into regulations. We shouldn’t be afraid of technology,” Jimly said on Saturday.

Juri Ardiantoro, General Election Commission (KPU) chairman, noted Indonesia has the highest rate of voters over one day in the world and while he supports e-voting it is likely the roll-out would take a long time.