KPU Chief Inspects Polling Stations

Jakarta, July 9 (Antara) - Chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Husni Kamil Manik here on Wednesday inspected several polling stations where Indonesians were lining up to cast their votes in the presidential election. Manik visited the polling station (TPS) number 57-86 at Cipinang Penitentiary, TPS number 52 at Persahabatan Public Hospital, and TPS at Cakung low-cost apartment, East Jakarta. Manik was optimistic that the public, government, and security authorities will contribute to the smooth and peaceful implementation of the presidential election. KPU Commissioners such as Hadar Nafis Gumay, Ferry Kurnia Rizkiyansya, and Arief Budiman, also monitored the implementation of the presidential election in different polling stations across Jakarta. Indonesians gathered at polling stations across the country to cast their votes for the presidential election on Wednesday, which commenced at 7 a.m. local time. According to the KPU, a total of 190,307,134 eligible voters have been registered for the presidential election on July 9, 2014, with 486,866 polling stations set up across the archipelago. The total number of eligible voters included 2,038,711 overseas voters who cast their votes three to four days ahead of the nationwide polling day. The presidential election is being contested by two pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates, Prabowo Subianto with Hatta Rajasa as his running mate, and Joko Widodo who pairs with Jusuf Kalla. The winning pair will be officially inaugurated as the country`s seventh president and vice president in October 2014.