Hence, the Bawaslu officers had urged the General Elections Commission (KPU)-South Sumatra Office to destroy the damaged ballot papers, Head of the Bawaslu-South Sumatra Office Kurniawan remarked.
The damaged ballot papers for the presidential election were found in 17 districts and cities across the province, he noted.
According to Kurniawan, the Bawaslu personnel are also supervising the condition of ballot papers for the elections of House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) members.
He underscored the need to destroy all damaged ballot papers to prevent any unwanted election fraud while adding that the KPU-regional offices should also report a shortage of ballot papers to the KPU in Jakarta.
The Bawaslu-South Sumatra Office received reports of a shortage of over 14 thousand ballot papers for the presidential election, he stated.
ANTARA reported earlier that the General Elections Commission (KPU) had declared that a total of 204,807,222 voters were registered on the final voter list for the 2024 General Elections.
The KPU also announced that the presidential and parliamentary elections will be held simultaneously across Indonesia on February 14.
Related news: KPU designs stronger ballot box for 2024 elections
The commission has officially set a 75-day election campaign period for the three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates from November 28, 2023, to February 10, 2024.
All participating political parties and presidential contenders have pledged to conduct peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections.
As part of its efforts to make voters aware of the three candidate pairs' political pledges, the commission has decided to organize five rounds of debates ahead of the presidential election.
The first and second rounds were held on December 12 and December 22, 2023. The third round took place on January 7, 2024, while the fourth and fifth rounds will be held on January 21 and February 4, respectively.
The three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates contesting the presidential election are Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD.
Baswedan and Iskandar have been nominated with the support of the NasDem Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and Ummat Party.
Meanwhile, Subianto and Raka have the backing of the Gerindra Party and a coalition of parties, including Golkar, National Mandate Party (PAN), Democratic Party, and Gelora Party.
Pranowo and Mahfud have the support of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), United Development Party, Perindo Party, and Hanura Party.
Related news: Three presidential candidate pairs approve 2024 election ballot design
Related news: Ballot paper simplification aims for affordable, easier election: KPU
Translator: Ahmad RB, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
