Festival of Democracy under Shadow of Pandemic

KOMPAS/VIDELIS JEMALI

An officer at TPS 21 Tatura Utara Village, South Palu District, Palu City, Central Sulawesi, Tuesday (8/12/2020) took a selfie at the place they created to enliven the voting on Wednesday (9/12/2020).

Held during the Covid-19 pandemic, this year\'s regional elections may be the most difficult and present complicated challenges. More logistics are prepared because the poll organizers have to provide personal protective equipment and implement Covid-19 preventive health protocols.

At the same time, the organizers must also work hard to attract voters who are still hesitant to come to the polling stations because they are worried about the transmission of Covid-19. Starting from decorating the polling station (TPS), providing a photo booth to giving herbal medicine or “antidotes” for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.

Also read: Regional Elections Pose High Risk, Adherence to Health Protocols Crucial

The efforts to attract voters, among others, were conducted at TPS 21 Tatura Utara village, South Palu district, Palu, Central Sulawesi. Aside from the venue arrangement to comply with health protocols, in one corner of the TPS there is also a photo booth with a background featuring white cloth and various flowers. There are two seats in the middle, just like a photo booth at a wedding reception.

Now is the era of social media. When there is a good post, people will take photos. It drives us to create an interesting spot at this TPS

At TPS 21, the polling stations working committee (KPPS) members designed the (photo booth) in response to people\'s penchant for taking pictures at interesting and unique places. "Now is the era of social media. When there is a good post, people will take photos. It drives us to create an interesting spot at this TPS," said Eva (34), a member of KPPS at TPS 21, on Tuesday (8/12/2020).

Also read: Resolve Problems at Polling Stations

In addition to attracting voters, the photo booth is also expected to create a unique experience for voters."This election is a people\'s festival, so let\'s have fun, including by taking pictures," said Eva.

KOMPAS/VINA OKTAVIA

A number of KPPS officers decorated the polling stations and prepared election logistics at TPS 005, Bumiwaras Village, Bumiwaras District, Lampung City, Tuesday (8/12/2020).

Meanwhile, KPPS officers at TPS 12 Tanamodindi subdistrict, East Palu district, Palu, decorated the TPS tent with various types of ornamental plants. The plants also serve as a marker for the physical distance between seats provided for queuing voters.

"Our concept is to decorate this TPS as a garden. So that the eyes and minds of the voters are fresh, as fresh as their mind when voting the candidate pair," TPS 21 KPPS chairman Taufiqurrahman said.

Also read: PPE Absolute Requirements

The excitement of welcoming the voting was also felt at TPS 005, Bumiwaras village, Bumiwaras district, Bandar Lampung municipality, Lampung. Since Monday (7/12), KPPS members and residents have been busy decorating the polling stations with all pink nuances and preparing photo booths complete with posters, calling for people to exercise their voting rights.

The idea of decorating the TPS, according to a member of the TPS 005 KPPS, Safitri, originated from concerns over the decline in citizens\' enthusiasm for voting due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "Therefore, we are looking for an idea that is cheap, but fun to attract voters to come to the polling station by implementing health protocols," said Safitri.

Also read: Safety and Quality of Regional Elections Maintained

The enthusiasm of the KPPS members was also welcomed by some of the residents who worked as jamu (herbal medicine) hawkers. During the voting, the jamu vendors in the densely populated settlement made a movement by giving out free herbal medicine as an effort to maintain the health of their neighbors.

Maryati (44) together with several fellow jamu hawkers prepared about 500 portions of herbal medicine for voters and KPPS members. By consuming the herbal medicine, Maryati hopes that local residents will always be healthy and can avoid diseases, including Covid-19.

Invitation to vote

KOMPAS/KRISTIAN OKA PRASETYADI

The atmosphere of the regional election has not yet been felt on Jalan Aspol Mappaoddang, Bongaya Village, Tamalate, Makassar.

Preparation for voting was not always filled with joy. Hermansyah (37), chairperson of KPPS at TPS 007 BTN Agraria, Tamalate, Makassar,

South Sulawesi, had to face resistance from some residents when delivering the voting invitations to the residents. "I just arrived at the fence, the owner of the house was screaming. He said he didn\'t want to vote. Maybe they are afraid of Covid-19, "he said.

Apart from the refusal of some residents, the poll organizers are also worried about the transmission of Covid-19. Moreover, based on data from the KPU Makassar, as many as 462 KPPS members were known to have been reactive to Covid-19 last week. The rapid test was again carried out on Sunday (6/12). The result: 127 people were still reactive.

Also read: Strengthening COVID-19 Prevention at Polling Stations

Makassar City KPU chairman Farid Wajdi confirmed that KPPS members known to be reactive for Covid-19 ahead of voting day were not assigned and replaced. This is to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 on election day.

Hasanuddin University epidemiologist Ridwan Amiruddin reminded that health protocols were absolutely necessary to prevent an explosion of cases after the election.

Reflecting on the 2019 elections, as many as 897 KPPS members were reported to have died due to exhaustion. Moreover, currently there is a real threat related to a pandemic. The safety of the residents, as well as the election organizers, remains the main thing.