TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On account of the simultaneous regional head elections to be held on December 9, 2015 the Indonesian government has declared the day a national holiday.

The decision is aimed at enabling voters employed outside their regions to cast ballots in the district head, mayoral and gubernatorial elections in their hometowns, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said on Monday.

"I will issue a circular declaring December 9 as a national holiday to enable people employed outside their regions to cast their votes," he stated.

The circular will be distributed to all regional governments in the country, Kumolo affirmed.

The minister pointed out that he will issue another circular banning incumbent regional heads seeking reelection from using state facilities.

"Incumbent regional heads are banned from using facilities owned by regional governments. Therefore, there will be a regulation banning them from the use of official vehicles during the campaigning period. The regulation will also deal with civil servants neutrality," he explained.

The Home Affairs Ministry is awaiting a decision from the state administrative reform minister regarding the neutrality of civil servants in the elections.

As part of the first round of preparations for the simultaneous regional head elections, general election commissions in 269 regions across Indonesia began registering candidates for regional head positions on Sunday, July 26.

Registration is open till 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday in each region.

On the first day of registrations on Sunday, general election commissions received nominations for 236 pairs, of which 178 were independent pairs and 58 nominated by political parties.

The simultaneous regional head elections will be held in 224 districts and 36 municipalities in nine provinces.

ANTARA