KPU Banyuwangi Presses the Number of Abstention among Students

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From the right Aiptu Bambang Purwanto, Drs. Wiyono, M.H., and representatives of KPU Banyuwangi. (Photo: Ananda Wildhan)

UNAIR NEWS – Towards the upcoming April 17 2019 elections, Banyuwangi Regency General Election Commission carried out the socialization of upcoming ecelction for new voters, especially PSDKU students at Universitas Airlangga Banyuwangi. The socialization held on Wednesday January 20 in A201 lecture hall was attended by KPU Banyuwangi, Head of Banyuwangi Bakesbangpol, and Banyuwangi Police representatives.

The election socialization was held for students because the number of students in Indonesia are massive, therefore socialization of elections to reduce the number of abstentions among students is needed. In addition, KPU also explained the regulation of voting.

As an opening, Banyuwangi KPU stated that the number of election candidates always increasing every single year. Therefore, it made people hard in choosing the right candidate. For instance, DPRD of Banyuwangi Regency, there are 50 seats available and the number of candidates reached 602 names.

According the statement of KPU Banyuwangi, Drs. Wiyono, M.H., as head of Agency of National Unity, Politics and Public Protection (Bakesbangpol) Banyuwangi stated that democracy, one of which is elections, is a right and obligation for citizens.

“So, if you choose to abstain, then you are not responsible to the country and you are not being a good citizen,” he said.

According to Wiyono, there are 3 things that become the parameters of a succesfull election, a series of election processes starting from candidate’s registration until the vote counts run smoothly and thoroughly, voting must be direct, public, free, confidential, honest and fair, and the results of elections can be accepted by the people.

“As a student, you should support the entire series of elections, the voting target in Banyuwangi for 2019 election is 79%, everyone should vote for this upcoming election. Being student who come from different city is not an excuse to be abstain, you can still participate in this upcoming election,” he added.

In contrast to other speakers, Aiptu Bambang Purwanto as an officer in Banyuwangi Police emphasized that Police and TNI should be neutral. The police, often called Bambang, also appealed to UNAIR Banyuwangi students to always maintain the progress of 2019 election both on campus and outside campus.

Socialization of 2019 General Election for new voters. (Photo: Ananda Wildhan)

“Students also have the right of their choice. It’s better to be neutral and keep your choices secret, according to our election principle,” he concluded.

It was revealed by Ahmad Rido’i Yuda Prayogi, one of the students of PSDKU UNAIR Banyuwangi from Faculty of Public Health that the socialization of upcoming elections for new voters was really useful.

“This activity really helped us in gaining insight for upcoming elections in April, It will help us to understand the election progress,” he said. (*)

Author: Bastian Ragas

Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh

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