TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The number of non-voters or abstainers, known locally as golput (golongan putih), in legislative election 2014 has increased significantly, presumably higher than that of previous elections. "We estimated there were over 34.02 percent of abstainee," said Rully Akbar, researcher of the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI).
Rully noted that the number back in 1999 was only 10.21 percent. It increased to 23.34 percent in 2004 and 29.01 percent in 2009. In this year's election, based on LSI quick count, the number of golput reached 34 percent, far above the running champion, the National Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP-P) at 19.67 percent.
Rully said there were several factors that can cause the rising number of golput: administrative and technical matters. "There is also a political matter, that is when somebody no longer believes in the election, nor does he feel related to the candidates or parties," he said.
LINDA TRIANITA
