Jakarta Election Commission Registers 150,000 New Voters
This article was updated on Tuesday (21/03) at 5:30 p.m. to add a statement from Jakarta KPUD head Sumarno.
Jakarta. The Jakarta General Election Commission, or KPUD, has added at least 150,000 residents to the city's voter registration list ahead of the second round of the gubernatorial election, slated for April 19.
Mochamad Sidik Sabri, head of the Jakarta KPUD's working committee for voter registration, said the additional voters have registered for the election in five administrative cities and one district within the capital.
The updated registration list includes voters who will turn 17 years of age on election day and those who became eligible to vote after the first round of the gubernatorial election on Feb. 15.
The new voter registration list is expected to be verified and displayed on the Jakarta KPUD's official website, Sidik said. He urged residents to check their registration status.
"Residents who have yet to be registered should visit their nearest registration booth," Sidik told reporters.
The KPUD reopened voter registration booths earlier this month to update temporary voters' lists ahead of the second leg of the Jakarta gubernatorial election.
The KPUD registered 7.1 million voters in the weeks leading up to the first round of the election, but only 5.5 million showed up to cast their ballots on election day.
In addition, KPUD head Sumarno also confirmed that those registering for the second-round election are only required to bring proof of identity, such as an electronic identity card (e-KTP), driver’s license, passport, marriage certificate, or statement letter.
The relaxed requirement is intended to make it easier for residents who were unable to vote in the first round.
"Residents are only required to provide proof of citizenship. It can be in the form of an electronic ID, statement letter, or even family identity card for us to enter the new data. In terms of additional voters, it does not mean they are not required to bring family identity cards, but it is optional in the second round of the gubernatorial election. So, instead of family identity cards, they can also use other forms of identification, such as driver's licenses, passports, or marriage certificates," Sumarno said on Monday.
"During the first round of the election, only family identity cards were accepted as proof of identity. This resulted in many residents being unable to exercise their right to vote, because they provided other forms of identification but did not bring their family cards. Since then, we made a correction and received input from the General Elections Commission to also accept passports, driver's licenses and marriage certificates, as long as we can reconfirm their photos, names, as well as dates and places of birth."
Watch Indonesia Highlights at 8 p.m. tonight on the Jakarta Globe News Channel and Facebook Live to find out more about voters registration ahead of the Jakarta Gubernatorial Election.
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