Bawaslu Finds a Lot of Damaged Election Logistics

The Election Supervisory Body (Badan Pengawas Pemilu or Bawaslu) has discovered a significant amount of damaged logistics in several regions during the first and second distribution phases. Based on the supervision of the first distribution phase logistics (September 13 – November 11, 2023), damages to ballot boxes, polling booths, ink, and cable ties were identified across 514 regencies/cities.

“The distribution of ballot boxes has been completed in 478 regencies/cities, while there are shortages in 36 regencies/cities. Damages and defects were found in 177 regencies/cities,” said Bawaslu member Herwyn JH Malonda during a press conference at the Bawaslu RI Building in Central Jakarta on January 8th.

Furthermore, Herwyn explained that during the distribution of polling booths already distributed in 497 regencies/cities, Bawaslu found damaged booths in 61 regencies/cities. Meanwhile, ink and cable ties have been distributed in 494 regencies/cities, with damaged ink found in 124 regencies/cities. In the distribution of seals in 484 regencies/cities, damaged seals were found in 30 regencies/cities.

He also mentioned that logistical distribution challenges often occur due to a lack of coordination and weather conditions as well as geographical conditions. Thus, Bawaslu found misdirected distribution in 10 regencies/cities. According to him, there are still General Election Commissions (KPU) that do not provide logistic distribution schedule information to Bawaslu.

Meanwhile, in the supervision of logistics distribution phase II (November 15, 2023, to January 14, 2024), Bawaslu member Puadi explained that there were damaged ballots in 127 regencies/cities. This number does not yet include the 61 regencies/cities that do not match the intended quantity.

“There are issues with the distribution of logistics in phase II, for example, there are damaged ballots in Pangkal Pinang, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, and Karang Anyar, Central Java Province,” Puadi explained.

Furthermore, Bawaslu member Lolly Suhenty stated that based on the records of 49 Overseas Election Supervisory Committee (Panwas-LN), there were discrepancies in the number of ballots in 29 Overseas Election Committees (PPLN). Additionally, there were excess ballots in 32 PPLNs for Overseas Polling Stations (TPS-LN) in 14 PPLNs, and excess ballots for Mobile Ballot Box (KSK) in three PPLNs.

“Based on the results of the supervision of logistics distribution in phases I and II, as well as the supervision of logistics overseas, Bawaslu will update logistics data through continuous supervision,” said Lolly. []

Translated by Catherine Natalia