REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia plans to implement electronic voting (e-voting) for general election (Pemilu). Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) claims that the system can slash the state budget.
"E-voting can trim the budget. we can use the money for people's welfare," BPPT's official Marzan A. Iskandar said on Wednesday, November 12.
Government recently spent 17 trillion IDR for Pemilu 2014. Islandar also believes that e-voting is more effective and efficient if compared with the manual system, with a greater level of accuracy.
"We can see the result in following day," he said.
BPPT ensures that e-voting eliminates potential violation as the result of the voting will be sent directly to General Elections Commission (KPU). However, Iskandar admitted that some adjustments were still needed before it is implemented. He suggested government to implement e-recapitulation before implementing e-voting.
Widening budget deficit has been a problem for Indonesia. Directorate General of Treasury at Ministry of Finance reports state budget deficit reached 153.36 trillion IDR or 63.5 percent from revised state budget 2014 by September 30. State revenues stood at 1,081.31 trillion IDR and state expenditure touched 1,234.67 trillion IDR.