Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU), Hasyim Asy'ari, revealed that a total of 181 members of election officials had passed away while carrying out their duties during the 2024 Election.

The officials include the District Election Committee (PPK), Polling Station Committee (PPS), and Group of Polling Station Officials (KPPS).

Hasyim conveyed this during a working meeting with the House of Representatives Commission II with the KPU, Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), Ethics Council for Election Organizers (DKPP), and the Ministry of Home Affairs at the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday.

"The total number of ad hoc members, including PPK, PPS, and KPPS members who passed away, amounted to 181 individuals, while those who experienced work-related accidents or illnesses numbered 4,770," said Hasyim.

Among these figures, Hasyim stated that six PPK members had passed away, along with 23 PPS members and 152 KPPS members while performing their duties. Meanwhile, out of the thousands who fell ill or were involved in work accidents, there were 166 PPK members, 783 PPS members, and 3,821 KPPS members.

Hasyim mentioned that the KPU had provided compensation to the victims and their families. Based on data from February 14 to February 25, 2024, the KPU had provided compensation to 114 deceased ad hoc members.

As for those who fell ill or were involved in work accidents, the KPU had only provided compensation to 374 PPK, PPS, and KPPS members.

"We pray for the deceased ad hoc members to have a peaceful end, and for those who are ill to recover soon," concluded Hasyim.

On Feb. 19, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said hypertension and heart attack were the main causes of death among election officials.

Being an election official entails demanding work, including tallying votes late into the night, sometimes even for 24 hours. These KPPS personnel receive a payment of Rp 1.1 million, and in the unfortunate event of their demise, they are entitled to compensation of Rp 36 million.

According to Budi, the number of officials who passed away during the previous 2019 election was over 500. Screening has been conducted on 6.8 million election officials, with 6.4 million found to be healthy and 400,000 identified as high-risk.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/181-election-officials-pass-away-during-2024-election-duty-kp