VIVAnews - Thousands of visually impaired people in Brebes regency could not possibly vote during the presidential elections on July 8.
The problem is, until yesterday, Tuesday, June 30, The Election Commission (KPU) of Brebes, has not yet received any voting assistance equipments for the blind.
In fact, the logistics for the elections must have been sent to the Subdistrict Elections Committees (PPK) by July 2.
Regional Board Head of the Indonesian Association for the Blind (Pertuni) of Brebes, Wasito said there are about 2500 visually impaired people in his area who are eligible to vote. They are very enthusiastic to participate in the elections.
However, if the needed equipments are not available, it will be difficult for them to vote.
“I didn't vote at the last elections because I was confused about how to vote”, Wasito said.
He also said there were a great deal of visually impaired people in Brebes who could not vote. They made up 60 percent of the total number of the blind on the voters list.
The Head of KPU Brebes, Mahfudin SS said until yesterday, his team had not received any polling assistance equipments. Logistics were sent from the central KPU. That is why KPU Brebes still cannot campaign about the equipments to the visually impaired.
However, the local KPU was assured that they would receive the equipments before the elections start.
“We still don't know the precise day, but they will arrive. As soon as we get the equipments, we will introduce them to the visually impaired,” Mahfudin said.
According to him, the only logistics that the KPU had not received was the equipments. Other logistics such as ballots, ink, seals, and C-forms have been received and distributed to the PPK. Until now, there have been 14 subdistricts which have obtained the logistics. There are only three subdistricts left.
According to the schedule, all the logistics must be handed over to the PPK at least on July 2 and received by the PPS on July 5 and KPPS on July 7. “So, the visually impaired can still vote because there will be enough time to introduce them”, Mahfudin said.
--
Translated by: Nataya Ermanti
