REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAYAPURA -- Voter turnout during the implementation of the mayoral election in Jayapura City was less than 60 percent, which is considered quite low, according to Governor of Papua Lukas Enembe.

It appears that several residents of Jayapura were not aware of the mechanism of the regional head election, or Pilkada, with only one pair of mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates, the governor stated here, Wednesday. "I think the General Election Commission (KPU) has not done its best in disseminating information on pilkada, either due to the lack of time or since the city is facing too many problems," he added.

He also cited the fact that only one pair had taken part in the pilkada in Jayapura City, which might have discouraged several residents from exercising their right to vote.

Hery Dosinanen, secretary of the Papua provincial administration, seconded the governor's view, saying that the KPU has failed in managing the pilkada's voter lists, as quite a few Jayapura residents did not receive an invitation to vote.

In Jayapura City, Benhur Tommy Mano and Rustan Saruh contested the local election as candidates for the mayor and deputy mayor posts.

Meanwhile, pilkada was held in 11 districts and cities across Papua Province, with the number of eligible voters reaching 1,445,976, and the number of candidates reaching 38 pairs. Voting was held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time across 3,864 polling stations. 

Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw stated that the situation in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua was safe and under control.

Such a situation is expected to continue until the processes of ballot counting and the declaration of winners are completed, Waterpauw noted. The 11 regions in Papua where pilkada was held include Jayapura District, Sarmi, Nduga, Tolikara, Intan Jaya, Lany Jaya, Dogiai, Puncak Jaya, Yapen Island, and Jayapura City. 

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