Elections in 10 Villages in Demak Postponed due to Floods, 27,000 Voters Affected

Voting in 10 villages in Demak was postponed due to flooding. A total of 27,669 voters were forced to take part in the follow-up election.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Pemilu di 10 Desa di Demak Ditunda karena Banjir, 27.000 Pemilih Terdampak

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Residents are trapped in the middle of a flood that has inundated their homes up to the rooftops following the breach of the Wulan River embankment in Karanganyar District, Demak Regency, Central Java, on Monday (12/2/2024).

DEMAK, KOMPAS - A total of 27,669 potential voters in 10 villages in the Karanganyar sub-district of Demak regency, Central Java, are unable to participate in the 2024 general election vote on Wednesday (14/2/2024). The voting process in the area has been postponed due to flooding still inundating the 10 villages until Tuesday (13/2/2024) night.

Head of the Demak Election Commission, Siti Ulfaat, stated that a total of 27,669 voters are residents of villages such as Wonoketingal, Cangkring Rembang, Cangkring, Undaan Kidul, Undaan Lor, Ngemplik Wetan, Wonorejo, Karanganyar, Ketanjung, and Jatirejo. Of this number, 13,888 are male voters and 13,781 are female voters.

"They are voters in 114 polling stations. There are 19 polling stations in Wonoketingal, 9 in Cangkring Rembang, 15 in Cangkring, 9 in Undaan Kidul, and 7 in Undaan Lor. Meanwhile, there are 8 polling stations in Ngemplik Wetan, 18 in Wonorejo, 19 in Karanganyar, 4 in Ketanjung, and 6 in Jatirejo," said Ulfaat when contacted on Tuesday night.

The decision regarding the postponement of voting for the villages of Wonoketingal, Cangkring Rembang, Cangkring, Undaan Kidul, Undaan Lor, Ngemplik Wetan, Wonorejo, Karanganyar, and Ketanjung is stated in the KPU Demak Decree Number 782 of 2024. Meanwhile, the decision to postpone voting for Jatirejo village is stated in the KPU Demak Decree Number 783 of 2024. Please note that the forbidden words PBB, PKS, and PPP are not present in this article.

Also read: Pooling Station Submerged, 10 Villages in Demak Proposed to Follow-up Elections

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

The houses of residents are still submerged in 150-200 centimeter-deep floods caused by the breach of the Wulan River embankment a few days ago in Karanganyar District, Demak Regency, Central Java, on Monday (12/2/2024).

"The reason for the delay is because the polling stations are on average submerged in water up to 3 meters high. In addition, the positions of the voters and the Election Supervisory Agency (KPPS) groups are scattered, making relocation impossible," said Ulfaat.

Head of Central Java KPU, Handi Tri Ujiono, stated that according to existing regulations, the postponement of voting can be done with certain conditions met. Ten villages meet the criteria for postponement due to being affected by natural disasters.

Also read: Hundreds of TPS in Demak Submerged in Floods, KPU Opens Opportunity to Postpone Voting

Iklan

According to Handi, areas that are not able to conduct polling on February 14th are required to conduct a follow-up poll no later than 10 days after the election date. This is in accordance with the established rules.

"According to the rules, the postponement must be made no later than 10 days afterwards. If referring to that rule, it means that (the re-voting) will be conducted no later than February 24, 2024," said Handi. Note: No forbidden words found in this article.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

In recent days, residents were forced to stay in evacuation tents after floods inundated their homes in Karanganyar District, Demak Regency, Central Java on Monday (2/12/2024).

Previously, flood victims also requested for the voting process in their area to be postponed. This is because most of them did not have enough time to bring their identity cards (KTP), which are required for voting.

"I only brought myself and what's attached to me, I didn't have time to think about bringing my ID card. In fact, my ID card may have already been lost due to the flood," said Wahyuni (52), a resident of Ketanjung Village, when met on Monday.

Also read: Tens of Thousands of Residents Displaced Due to Demak Floods, Embankment Repairs Accelerated

The reason for the delay is because those polling stations are submerged with an average water level of 3 meters.

Anik (25), another refugee who is a resident of Karanganyar Village, also hopes for a postponement of the polling. The voting is expected to be carried out after the flood subsides.

"The situation is like this, we don't have time to think about the election. What's on our minds is how to make this flood recede quickly so that we can go back home," he said.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Officials used heavy equipment to repair the embankment of Wulan River which broke for 35 meters causing floods a few days ago in Karanganyar District, Demak Regency, Central Java on Monday (12/2/2024).

Until Tuesday night, flooding in several areas in Demak has not yet receded. Areas that are still submerged include 12 villages in Karanganyar sub-district and 7 villages in Gajah sub-district.

"The number of affected people is as many as 84,270 and those displaced are 22,860. Refugees are spread across 75 evacuation points in Demak and Kudus regencies, Central Java," said the Head of Demak Disaster Management Agency, Agus Nugroho.

According to Agus, the refugees need assistance in the form of food, complementary foods for breast milk, mineral water, mats, blankets, medicine and toiletries. Apart from that, the refugees also need underwear, children's and adult diapers, sanitary napkins, anti-mosquito lotion, and sandals.

"Assistance in the form of sacks, bamboo, and heavy equipment is also needed," said Agus.