Jakarta – Almost none of the administrative regions that will hold elections this year have approved budgets proposed by local polling commissions, putting the scheduled political agenda at risk.

Each regional administration has to allocate sufficient funds to finance two rounds of voting.

"This has become a national problem. We fear the election process will be disrupted and the central government will have to extend the term of office of incumbent leaders," General Elections Commission (KPU) member I Gusti Putu Artha said Thursday on the sidelines of a meeting in Jakarta between KPU leaders and representatives of regional elections commissions from across the country.

The problems have led to the Jambi provincial polling body having to postpone gubernatorial elections for three months because the provincial administration had neither endorsed nor disbursed election funds as proposed by the election commission.

Other provinces facing similar situations include Riau Islands, West Sumatra and North Sulawesi, as well as 13 regencies and municipalities.

Artha blamed regional administrations for failing to plan for election spending in advance.

Regional elections will take place in stages in 244 regencies, municipalities and provinces across the country this year.