Wasti Atmodjo, Jakarta – A simulation exercise held in Denpasar, Bali, over the weekend showed that 44 percent of eligible voters chose to abstain, an election committee member said.

The Denpasar General Elections Commission (KPUD) Chairman I Made Gede Ray Misno said 143 of a total of 325 eligible voters registered at 10 polling booths chose not to exercise their right to vote. He added that the number of botched voting papers was also high.

"Twenty-three percent of 182 legislature votes registered were void, 27 percent of the votes for provincial council members and 23 percent of the regional legislative council votes were also invalid," he said.

Wisno said the simulation results indicated that the Denpasar KPUD would need to step up its efforts to promote the elections and inform the public of proper voting procedures. (amr)