"So far, based on reports, it ran smoothly. In evacuation centers, the residents were very enthusiastic," Deputy Ministry of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto stated after monitoring a polling station in Pegangsaan, Jakarta, on Wednesday.
He explained that officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs have paid a visit to areas affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Flores and ensured the readiness of special polling stations.
"We have visited the areas and ensured the 22 polling stations are ready and all residents have received an invitation or at least have an identity document that they can bring to the polling station to vote," Sugiarto remarked.
He further explained that the 22 special polling stations are located in evacuation center areas. Moreover, two polling stations are set up in border areas to facilitate people who evacuated independently.
The Government of East Flores District has set an emergency response status for the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki for 58 days, from November 4 to December 31, 2024.
The status has been set following an increase in Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki's status from Level III (Warning) to Level IV (Alert), with fatalities and significant infrastructure damage recorded.
The 2024 Regional Head Elections are held simultaneously on November 27 in 37 provinces, 93 cities, and 415 districts.
The government has set November 27, 2024, as a national holiday to support people to cast their votes to elect mayors, district heads, and governors of regions.
The regional KPU office in each region will conduct the vote tabulation process until mid-December.
The elected governors and deputy governors will be sworn in on February 7, 2025, while the inauguration of elected mayors, vice mayors, district heads, and deputy district heads will be carried out on February 10.
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Translator: Rio Feisal, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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