KPU STARTS PREPARING LOGISTICS FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Jakarta, April 22 (ANTARA) - The General Elections Commission (KPU) has started preparing the logistics for the presidential election to be held next July 8, a KPU spokesperson said Wednesday.

KPU member Andi Nurpati said the KPU had discussed the formation of a committee to be responsible for the procurement of election supplies.

"We have asked the KPU Bureau of Logistics to make correct preparations so that all could be carried out in time. Among the problems we are discussing is time for printing the ballots which is very short and also may only be done after candidates are determined," he said.

He said KPU had determined ballot procurement zones including requirements for companies wishing to participate in the bidding as well as process of distribution.

Among the supplies to be met by the KPU are ballots, ink and seals. So far the KPU has already prepared a number of ballot designs to be used for the election. The designs would be referred to the House of Representatives for selection and determination.

Besides preparing logistics the KPU has also prepared a number of regulations relating to the implementation of the election such as voting and vote counting.

Like in the recent legislative elections, only voters that have been registered would be allowed to cast ballots. In principle, the number of voters to cast ballots at a polling station will be limited to 800 at the highest.

He said the KPU had also set schedules and stages for the presidential election. Registration of presidential and vice presidential candidates is scheduled from May 10 to 16 while health checks are to be carried out between May 11 and 15.

He said verification of candidates' documents would be carried out from May 11 to 17 and its result would be made known to political parties or a group of political parties on May 15-18.

The KPU gives four days from May 18 to 21 for candidates to complete their administrative requirements. Repeat verification meanwhile will be done on May 22 and its result to be made known on May 22 to 25.

He said in case candidates failed to meet the requirements the KPU would give parties or a group of parties time to seek replacements, namely from May 26 to June 1, while verification of the documents of the replacements are scheduled on May 30 to June 4.

Andi said the result of the verification was scheduled to be made known on May 30 to June 4 and confirmation on names of candidates and distribution of candidacy numbers on June 5 to 9.

He said campaign would start from June 13 and end on July 4, followed by three days of cooling down, polling on July 8.