Witnesses presented by the Petitioners while delivering their testimonies in the hearing for the settlement of the election results dispute (PHP) of Sampang Regent, Friday (31/8) in the Plenary Courtroom of the Constitutional Court Building. Photo by Humas MK/Ganie.

The Constitutional Court (MK) held a hearing to settle the election results dispute (PHP) of Sampang Regent in registered case No. 38/PHP.BUP-XVI/2018 on Friday (31/8). In the third hearing of the petition filed by Candidate Pair Hermanto Subaidi-Suparto, the witness for the Petitioners stated that double final voters (DPT) were found and a deceased voter was found to have made it into the voters lists.

Witness for the Petitioners, Abdul Muhlis, stated that the violations occurred at TPS (polling station) 2 of Anasoka Village. The violations were double DPT in the name of Mat Tasan. There was also a double DPT in the name of Kete in TPS 3 in Pandan Village. "In addition, a resident named Mayah was found to have voted even though they had died. So, someone else had voted in their place," he explained in the session led by Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman.

Muhlis also explained that distribution of C-6 forms that did not match the names of voters occurred at eight polling stations in Temoran Village, Omben Subdistrict. The number of C-6 forms reaches 200 sheets, which results in many voters not being able to vote.

"On this matter, we reported to PPS (polling committee) and PPK (District Election Committee), but received no response. Finally, the district Panwas (supervisory committee) responded. The existing C-6 forms were withdrawn, but there is no further solution," he affirmed as Secretary to the Petitioners’ Campaign Team.

The incident resulted in a number of voters using e-ID to vote after 12 PM. They were classified as Additional Voters. However, in reality, many voters who wanted to vote using e-ID were not allowed. "For example, in one polling station, only 12 people were allowed to vote, when 50 more people wanted to use e-ID. In eight polling stations a total of 100 voters could not vote," said Muhlis.

In addition, Muhlis said there were other problems in five subdistricts, in which the number of ballot users in the election of Sampang Regent were higher than that in the election of East Java Governor. At that time, the elections were carried out simultaneously.

"If is reasonable that there would be more ballots for governor election because residents of East Java, although they do not live in Sampang, can vote for the governor in Sampang. However, higher number of ballots for the election of Sampang regent is abnormal," he said. Muhlis added that the number of ballots for the regent election was 2,437 in five subdistricts, with the most use in Kedundung Subistrict reaching 1,540 ballots.

Another witness for the Petitioners, M. Ilyas, also mentioned double voters occurring in Ketapang Subdistrict. He mentioned that as many as two double voters were found in TPS 2 and TPS 6 in Ketapang Subdistrict. "In addition, there is 100 percent voter participation in East Ketapang Village, TPS 8. In fact, 12 people were absent and there were deceased voters at the polling stations," he said.

As for other witnesses, Zahid explained about voters who voted in his village even though they were not local residents. He is a community figure in Trampon Village so he knows which residents live there and not. "This is the incident at TPS four at Trampon Village," he explained. (Arif/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)