"As we know, the pandemic has had a major impact on the local elections process. Hence, the health protocols should always be prioritized, including during the voting event."Medan (ANTARA) - Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian called to give greater importance to applying new health protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic during the local elections scheduled simultaneously across Indonesia in early December of 2020.
"As we know, the pandemic has had a major impact on the local elections process. Hence, the health protocols should always be prioritized, including during the voting event," Karnavian noted at a coordination meeting for local elections in the North Sumatra region held in Medan on Friday.
Attendees at the meeting comprised Coordinator Politics, Law, and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi, and some other high-ranking officials.
The election committees across North Sumatra have been working smoothly to disburse election funds from the local governments' budget, though in some areas, it remains minimal, Karnavian remarked.
The minister has called for those areas to manage the disbursement as soon as before July 15 since a door-to-door approach would thereafter be followed to update the data of voters.
"The disbursal of funds should be the focus. I appeal to all parties, including the local governments as well as the military and police, to support this process, so that the elections are well-organized," Karnavian added.
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Translator: Juraidi, Suwanti
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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