Quick Count Results to Only Be Used as Reference, Says KPU

KPU Chairman Arif Budiman.

Jakarta, 22 Rajab 1438/19 April 2017 (MINA) – The results of quick counts on elections by several survey institutions can be used as a reference and not as a final result, Antara quoted General Election Commission (KPU) Chairman Arief Budinman as stating here on Wednesday.

“The quick counts and surveys are valid, measured, and accountable activities. The public can use their results as a reference,” the KPU chairman remarked during a press conference.

Budinman noted that through surveys, the public can gain a quicker understanding of all activities of the simultaneous regional head elections.

He, however, reaffirmed that the results of quick counts and surveys do not constitute a final and official result.

“It should be understood that the final results will be announced by the Jakarta KPU,” he added.

Regarding possible disputes over the regional head election in 2017, the KPU chairman said his commission has made the necessary preparations on matters that fall under the scope of its responsibilities.

Jakarta held the second round of the regional head election on Wednesday, with the pairs — Basuki Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat and Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno — contesting the runoff.

Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno, the candidate pair of governor and deputy governor, won the election based on the quick count.

Until 2:55 p.m. local time, some 62.29 percent votes had been counted. The Anies-Sandi pair had received 55.07 percent of the votes based on the Lingkaran Survey Indonesia. Meanwhile, the Basuki-Djarot pair got 44.93 percent votes.

The results of the Indikator Politiks quick count on 60.75 percent of the already counted votes also placed the Anies-Sandi pair as the winner, with 58.93 percent, and Basuki-Djarot pair, with 41.07 percent. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)