Election Cooling Down Period

Today, Saturday, 4 July 2009, is the last day for the three pairs of Candidate President/ Vice President to campaign before the Presidential Election on Wednesday, 8 July 2009.

According to the Presidential Election Law No.42/2008, from 5 until 8 July, the 3 pairs 1. Megawati/Prabowo, 2. Susilo Bambang Yudoyono/Boediono, 3. Jusuf Kalla/ Wiranto are not allowed to campaign. Further, the Law also restricted the news media from reporting election related stories.

But The Jakarta Post reported that last Friday the Constitutional Court (MK) has annulled the stipulation regarding news media restriction, saying that it is against our country's constitution which protects freedom of speech.

According to Kompas, MK has accepted the Judicial Review on Law No. 42/2008 Articles 188 (2&3), 228, & 255 that forbid announcement of polling results during the cooling down period. The Judicial Review was requested by the Association of Public Opinion Research.

With the above MK's decision, public opinion survey (poll) & Quick Counts results may be announced during the cooling down period. And as long as the polling is carried out by non partisan organization, its results would not manipulate the minds of the voters.