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South Nias Voters Hit Polls Twice
Nivell Rayda | July 09, 2009

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Residents of South Nias district in North Sumatra voted twice on Wednesday — once for the presidential election and again for a legislative elections rerun.

The Constitutional Court on June 16 ordered the Provincial General Elections Commission (KPUD) to hold another vote in South Nias, as well as two areas in Riau, due to the use of ballots delivered to the wrong areas.

Turunan Gulo, a KPUD member, noted a turnout of more than 70 percent. “We are confident that there won’t be any more disputes,” he said. The votes for the presidential poll would be counted first, he said. The new legislative votes will be counted between July 20 and July 25.

North Sumatra Police spokesman Baharuddin Djafar monitored the election and said about 800 officers had been deployed to supervise the polling stations until the last vote was counted. Police also deployed helicopters.

Pandapotan Tamba, a KPUD spokesman, said at least 80 percent of voters in North Sumatra would vote in South, Central and North Tapanuli districts, where there has been a push to establish a breakaway province.

A February independence rally turned violent, leading to the death of Abdul Aziz Angkat, the speaker of the North Sumatra Regional Representatives Council. The violence resulted in the widespread rejection of the plan.

Across North Sumatra, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appeared to be the winner.

The KPUD is scheduled to announce the result for the presidential poll in the province today.

At least 160 election violations were reported throughout the province, marring an otherwise smooth and flawless vote.