Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) expected that the 2024 General Elections will run better than the previous elections. The organizers thus designed a number of new rules such as limiting the age of polling station working committees (KPPS) up to cutting the campaign period.
KPU was determined to limit the age of poll administrators to a maximum of 50 years. The age limit will be applied to the district election committee (PPK), polling committee (PPS), and polling station working committees (KPPS).
"As recommended by the Health Ministry in the 2020 Regional Head Election, the maximum age [of KPPS] is 50 years because it is still considered a productive age," said KPU chairman Hasyim Asy'ari on Monday, May 30, 2022.
He explained that the age limit policy was taken as the agency learned from many death cases of poll administrators in the 2019 General Elections. At that time, 554 poll officials died allegedly due to heavy workload and comorbid illnesses.
"Based on studies by several institutions [conducted] after the 2019 election, such as IDI, UGM, the Health Ministry, those who died aged over 50 years and had comorbid diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke heart," said Hasyim.
The KPU will also increase the fee for each officer by three folds to Rp1,500,000 from previously Rp500,000. The agency hoped the higher compensation could attract the public's interest to contribute and participate as election organizers.