Bringing out the vote: voter education in Malang

In an effort to boost voter turn out in the upcoming elections the Department of Religion of the municipality of Malang, in cooperation with the Regional General Elections Commission (KPUD) initiated a voter education campaign in the Sultan Agung Mosque in Batu, Malang, East Java, on March 24.

About 300 people attended the event, which was coined ""Maulid Nabi and the Soscialization of the Elections 2009" to commemorate Maulid Nabi, the birthday of prophet Muhammad. The Chairman of KPUD Malang, Mr Mahfud explained the voting procedures, the different political offices at stake in the legislative and presidential elections, and the number of parliamentarians who will represent Malang's residents at the local, regional, and national level.

At the event, Mr Mahfud lamented that even some legislative candidates do not understand the voting procedures, an issue that concerns him. But he also observed that voting methods in Indonesia are out of date and do not make optimal use of technology.

"Indonesia and Cameroon are the only two countries in the world where people vote by perforating the ballot papers. Many countries use computers now and voting machines similar to automatic bank teller machines (ATMs)," Mr Mahfud explained.

Involving students

Meanwhile in the city of Malang, the Women Corps of the Union of Islamic Students (KOHATI) in association with the General Election Commission (KPU) launched their own voter education campaign, using a car with a poster at the back reading "Saya Ikut Pemilu 2009" (I will vote in the 2009 elections).

Yati Febriati, a student from the Islamic University of Malang (UNISMA) who is involved in this campaign, says it is important to educate citizens as so many of them do not understand how to use their right to vote. Yati hopes that the campaign will help them understand the new voting system.

The campaign of KOHATI and KPU targets students and women groups in five regions in East Java, including Jember, Kediri, Tulungagung, Ponorogo, and Bojonegoro. (Any Rufaidah, Malang)