The aluminium boxes from the previous years to replace these carton boxes (Jubi)
Merauke, 5/3 (Jubi) – The Election Commission of Merauke Regency will meet to take decide on 1,156 ballot boxes that have been deemed unfit for use, a commissioner said.
A member of the Election Commission of Merauke, Severinus Fenanlampir, said on Wednesday (5/3) that 312 voting booths would be used in the 10 polling stations (TPS) in the city.
“The rest will store in the warehouse together with the ballot boxes,” .
“We have opened and installed those ballot boxes and voting booths but they were just not fit to use,” he said,” he said.
“According to the rules, they must be equipped with padlocks. There is risk of them being broken if exposed to seawater or rain. So we agreed to conduct a plenary and decide not to use them,” he added.
He further said that everyone must understand very well about the topography of Merauke Regency and aluminium ballot boxes are more suitable for long-term use.
“We will use the aluminium boxes from the previous years to replace those carton boxes. I have checked and saw that they are still fit to be used on 9 April,” he said.
When asked about the carton ballot boxes and voting booths, he added it would be temporarily kept in the warehouse while waiting for the further direction from the central commission. “Yes, we don’t know why they decided to use the carton material,” he said.
He also said other regencies and municipalities in Papua Province received the same equipment, but he did not know whether other election commissions will do the same thing. (Jubi/Frans L Kobun/rom)
