Dozens of Election Officials Passed Away, KPU and Bawaslu Speak Up

Chair of the General Election Commission (KPU) Hasyim Asy’ari revealed that a total of 71 Election 2024 officials have passed away. Based on data collected by the KPU until February 18, 2024, the deceased officials comprised 42 members of the Voting Organizer Group (KPPS), 24 Linmas officers, 4 Voting Committees (PPS), and 1 District Election Committee (PPK) member.

“Of course, in this situation, we convey our deepest condolences especially to the families of the ad hoc bodies who have tragically lost their lives,” said Hasyim during a press conference at the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Jakarta (02/19).

Furthermore, Hasyim explained that there are 4,567 election officials who are sick. He outlined that the sick officials include 136 PPK members, 696 PPS members, 364 Linmas officers at the polling stations (TPS), and 3,371 KPPS members. Additionally, the distribution of compensation will be provided after the verification of data and supporting documents, such as death certificates and hospitalization letters for those who are sick.

“Until now, as of February 17, 2024, compensation has been distributed to 4 out of the 71 deceased individuals,” he clarified.

Meanwhile, the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) revealed that a total of 13 election supervisors have passed away since the polling day until February 19, 2024. Bawaslu member Herwyn Malonda explained that in total, 27 officials have passed away, with 7 individuals passing away in 2023 and another 7 individuals passing away from January to February 13, 2024.

“13 individuals (deceased) from February 14 to February 19 at present,” said Herwyn.

Meanwhile, the number of officials who are sick is 1322 individuals, with 1077 receiving outpatient treatment and 147 undergoing hospitalization. Herwyn explained that monitoring of the election supervisors continues because the election process is still ongoing. He acknowledged that efforts would be made to provide compensation in accordance with the provisions for accident compensation for the ad hoc bodies that have been established.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Tito Karnavian, called on all regional heads to provide assistance to election officials who have encountered difficulties while performing their duties. Tito also expressed hope that mitigation efforts to prevent similar incidents from happening again would be carried out promptly, considering that the Simultaneous Regional Elections (Pilkada) 2024 are also imminent.

To mitigate casualties, the Ministry of Health has proposed health screenings to be conducted before registration and made a requirement for KPPS officials. This is deemed important because election officials work for over 10 hours. Kemenkes also suggests health checks to be conducted every 6 hours in collaboration with Community Health Centers (Puskesmas).

“There are 823 thousand polling stations, and if the health facilities owned by the Ministry of Health and local governments number around 10 thousand at the district level, could we have, for example, one community health center in each district covering the polling stations in that district? So that at least those at high risk can be visited and checked,” said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin. []

Translated by Catherine Natalia