KPU commissioner goes up mountain to educate illiterate citizens about 2019 election

South Kalimantan KPU Commissioner Eddy Ariansyah explains about 2019 election, such as how o vote, to people in the mountainous area the foremost of HST District. . (ANTARA PHOTO/Bayu Pratama S/pras

Even though the condition was raining and without porters, we continue the journey because this is our responsibility to ensure that all citizens understand how to vote,

Barabai, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Commissioner of the South Kalimantan General Election Commission (KPU Kalsel) Eddy Ariansyah walked up to the mountain to Juhu Village, one of the furthest areas in Central Hulu Sungai (HST), to educate residents, who are mostly illiterate, about the 2019 election.

Eddy started the walk from Hinas Kiri Village, Saturday (13/4) accompanied by one staff member and one KPPS (polling station working committee) member on a trip which was estimated to take two days to reach Juhu Village, which is at an altitude of 560 meters-above-sea-level (masl).

"Even though the condition was raining and without porters, we continue the journey because this is our responsibility to ensure that all citizens understand how to vote," he said.

This mountainous region is not accessible for transportation or internet and media, so the KPU conducted face-to-face socialization with residents.

"For socialization we use social instruments with teaching aids in the form of posters, video screenings, and oral explanations for voting procedures," said Eddy, in charge of voter education and community participation.

According to him, with this explanation, at least illiterate people know the colors and symbols of election participants who are transformed thoroughly and easily understood.

"Quality of choose is something important and the right to vote greatly determines the government for the next five years. So our presence
by meeting face to face is to encourage participation in quantity and quality," he said.

Also to ensure that the procedure for voting is carried out correctly and legally so that the choice is not in vain by not pawning his or her voting rights with money politics and other material.

"It is hoped that they will consciously democracy and obey all kinds of regulations that already exist," he said.

The residents of Kiyu Village, Jarkasi said, almost 75 percent of residents still unable to read and write were very difficult to identify candidates for the election.

"Because there were none of us in the past went to schools. Only our children now read and write because school is close," he said.

The final voters’ list (DPT) for Batang Alai Timur Subdistrict was 5,188 voters in 28 polling stations in 11 villages, including two villages which are the furthest areas on HST. The two villages can only be reached on foot for almost two days, namely Juhu and Aing Bantai Villages.