Jakarta. Distributing ballot boxes to 820,000 polling stations (TPS) spread across 17,000 islands in Indonesia is an incredibly challenging but not impossible endeavor. Every means is employed to ensure the success of the 2024 elections in the world's third-largest democracy.

Yulianto Sudrajat, the General Election Commission (KPU) Commissioner in charge of logistics, informed reporters on Tuesday that the distribution of election logistics is progressing simultaneously, with nearly 99 percent of it already reaching regencies, cities, sub-districts, and villages.

Drawing lessons from the 2019 elections, the KPU has mapped the most remote, outermost, and isolated areas (3T). A total of 162 3T regions have been identified based on KPU findings.

According to Yulianto, the KPU prioritizes distribution to the outermost areas, including Talaud Islands, Sangihe, Mianas, and several districts in Papua. The distribution process was successfully completed by Feb. 11, 2024.

In 3T areas, the KPU received assistance from the military and the police, the Ministry of Transportation, and local governments. 

In West Kalimantan, the ballot distribution faced various challenges, including floods in Sinar Baru Village in Jagoi Babang District, Bengkayang Regency. Despite this, they successfully overcame the obstacles using motorcycles and boats, according to Surya Markus, Chairman of the election committee (PPK) in Jagoi Babang, as reported by Beritasatu.com on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the distribution of 2024 election logistics to island regions in Sangkarrang sub-district, Makassar, South Sulawesi, was hit by heavy rain and strong winds on Monday.

In Subang, West Java, the PPK faced extreme conditions and had to cross rivers to ensure the five-yearly democratic event. With tight police and military escort, the distribution of 2024 election logistics commenced towards hard-to-reach areas in Cigebang Village and Talagasari Village on Monday.

Local police and military personnel tirelessly assisted the 2024 Election Committee in navigating extreme routes in the South Subang area. The distribution journey to this location took three hours, traversing seven sub-districts and challenging terrains. While crossing the Cikeruh River, officers and locals had to carry election logistics. After that, they returned via land routes using motorcycles.

"Serangpanjang Sub-district consists of 89 polling stations, and there are two stations that are very distant and risky, located in Cigebang Hamlet, Talagasari Village," said Ida Halimah, Chairman of the Serangpanjang Sub-district Election Committee (PPK).

Meanwhile, the Regional KPU in Polewali Mandar Regency, West Sulawesi, used motorcycles to transport ballot boxes to mountainous areas in Patambanua Village and Lenggo Village, Bulo Sub-district.

To reach these locations, the motorcycle riders had to endure challenging, damaged, uphill, and steep roads, covering a travel distance of approximately six hours from Bulo Sub-district to the two remote villages.

In Jember, East Java, election officials from Tempurejo Sub-district distributed election logistics using horses to reach the polling stations in the Meru Betiri National Park forest area on Tuesday. The ballots for 125 voters were transported along narrow paths, covering a distance of about 2-3 hours

Despite facing challenging and steep terrains, the distribution of election logistics successfully reached the destination smoothly. The voter participation rate in Sumbersalak plantation has been consistently high, reaching up to 90 percent.

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