KPU: Voting Fingers Dipped in Turmeric in Fear of Breaking Wudu
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16 April 2019 11:59 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Member of the West Java General Elections Commission (KPU) Endun Abdul Haq said that villagers in Cirebon refused to use ink as a marking of their participation in the elections.
The General Elections Commission mandates that a voter’s finger is partially dipped in ink to mark their participation in the election.
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“The Benda Kerep village doesn’t utilize ink but uses turmeric extract as marking. It’s a tradition in Cirebon City from past elections,” said Endun on Monday, April 15.
The main reason for this adjustment, she explained, is that the use of permanent ink will break a Muslim from their wudu, which is what is required before performing prayers. There are three polling stations (TPS) at the Benda Kerep village that adopts this style.
According to Endun, only those three areas refuse to use the iconic purple ink in marking one’s participation in the 2019 general elections. “This is uniquely Cirebon,” said Endun.
AHMAD FIKRI (CONTRIBUTOR)
