The previous discourse was in 2010 when some officials debated whether the Indonesian public were ready to use the e-voting system in the 2014 general elections.
The then home affairs minister, Gamawan Fauzi, had believed that the Indonesian public were not ready for e-voting in the presidential and legislative elections in 2014.
"Our public is not ready. Our people feel more comfortable with ballots. Especially people in remote areas are not used to technological devices such as computers," Fauzi said on the sidelines of a national dialog on the use of the e-Voting system in the 2014 general elections organized by the Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) in May 2010.
From the facility concern, BPPT claimed that the agency was ready technologically and had even tried it in village head elections in Jembrana District, Bali Province, in 2009.
The agency believed that e-voting would offer a number of advantages, such as it simplifies the voting process, saves money from the ballot printing, and easier and faster ballot counting.
Late this year, Indonesia will organize the first-stage simultaneous regional head elections, while the second stage will be held in 2017.
Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has planned to use an e-voting system in the simultaneous regional head elections in 2017.
"I want that starting 2017, e-voting system will be applied in the simultaneous regional head elections, as well as in the legislative elections and the presidential elections in 2019," Minister Kumolo said in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi on Oct. 10, 2015.
In order to implement e-voting, every city and every district throughout Indonesia must complete the process of issuance of E-ID cards for every citizen in 2016, he noted.
Currently, some 170 Indonesian citizens have had E-ID cards, and only one million citizens do not have E-ID cards, according to him.
He instructed regional authorities to be proactive in providing E-ID cards to those who do not have the cards, particularly to inhabitants of remote areas.
The government has prepared two concepts for the 2019 general elections, he stated.
The first concept is for the simultaneous elections of president, legislators (DPR), and member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) at the national level.
The second concept is for the simultaneous elections of governors, district heads, mayors, and local legislators (DPRD) using the e-voting system.
Indonesia will use Indias e-voting system as a reference for its elections in the future.
"India has been effectively and successfully carrying out e-voting. It operates at a low cost and with minimal errors, despite the fact that the number of illegible voters was almost one billion," Kumolo said in August 2015.
After studying Indias e-voting system, the ministry will consult the BPPT to find a similar formula for Indonesia, he added.
"We will discuss what system is better and cheaper than Indias with BPPT," he noted.
Earlier, Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) Husni Kamil Manik said the Commission is considering the use of information technology for the general elections in Indonesia in the future.
"We are studying the use of information technology in elections. In November 2015, the study is expected to be completed and introduced to concerned stakeholders," he noted.
Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir has welcomed the plan, noting the use of information technology in general elections can save 60-70 percent of normal election costs, such as the government not having to print paper ballots and invitations.
"Just by showing his or her e-ID card and using finger print, a voter only needs to click a button. Everything will be automatic," the minister stated, adding that Indonesia is ready to implement e-voting system in general elections.
A legislator of the Gerindra Party, Bambang Riyanto, however, has questioned the idea of using e-voting system in the future general elections.
"The idea (on e-voting) is good. But I doubt if it would be possible o apply e-voting mechanism in every Indonesian province in 2019," Riyanto said in Jakarta, on Oct. 9.
E-voting could be applied in major islands like Java, but doing so in remote areas would be very difficult, he said.
"Its not easy for every region to have access to e-voting technology. At present, some remote areas do not even have access to electricity. For example, what will happen to Papua which is using a noken system?" he noted.
He said the government should make sure that every region in Indonesia first gains access to such sophisticated technology before going ahead with the decision to apply e-voting mechanism.
Alternatively, the e-voting system would have to be applied only in certain regions, he said.
"Its okay if it is done on trial basis. But is it possible to apply it in every province? If its possible, then it is not a problem," he remarked. ***2***
(f001/b003/B003)
(T.F001/A/F001/B003) 11-10-2015 21:16:27
Reporter: Fardah
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
