Armando Siahaan, Jakarta – An attempt by political parties to insert their members into election organizers is gaining little ground with the public, which a survey says is pleased with the bodies as they are.
The House of Representatives is deliberating an amendment to the 2007 Election Organizers Law, at the heart of which is a proposal that political party members be allowed to serve on electoral bodies, such as the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Elections Supervisory Board (Bawaslu), to improve their performance.
The KPU was widely lambasted by parties and political analysts alike for its poor handling of last year's elections, which were fraught with violations and fraud. Currently, only those who have not been affiliated with a political party for the past five years may serve on either body.
Seven of the nine parties deliberating the bill at House Commission II, which oversees domestic affairs, want the time limit scrapped, while only the ruling Democrats and the National Mandate Party (PAN) support the existing restrictions.
However, a survey by the International Foundation for Election Systems indicated that the public believed the KPU was doing a good job.
"Of those aware of the various electoral institutions, there are fairly high levels of satisfaction with these institutions," IFES said in a statement.
Some 72 percent of the study's 2,500 respondents said they were satisfied with the KPU, holding steady from 71 percent in 2008. Meanwhile, 70 percent were satisfied with Bawaslu, while 71 percent were satisfied with the provincial-level Elections Supervisory Committees (Panwas).
The survey also showed that 65 percent of respondents believed the results released by provincial polling commissions, also known as KPUD, reflected the actual vote, with only 9 percent doubting the results. The study, conducted across all 33 provinces in August, also indicated that a majority of the people wanted to see the polling bodies free from influence from political parties.
"There is also general support for insulating the KPU from political pressures, as 62 percent support barring election commissioners from joining a political party for five years after they leave the KPU," IFES said, referring to a proposed change to law.
While most respondents were satisfied with the KPU, they also believed there was plenty of room for improvement.
The survey showed that 74 percent of respondents wanted more information on the vote-counting process, 73 percent on the participating parties and candidates, 64 percent on how to mark the ballot, and 57 percent on voter registration.