Governor Election in Jakarta

For the first time ever, yesterday, Jakarta conducted a governor election. Adang Daradjatun - Dani Anwar vs. Fauzi Bowo - Prijanto.

It's the first time of Jakarta's governor election for me. And probably, for my big family, it's also the last time. My parents' moving plan to Bali View, Cirendeu-Ciputat, makes us soon no longer residents of Jakarta. Dad has to renew the family identity card (Kartu Keluarga) with card from Kabupaten Tangerang. That means, I have to renew my citizenship id card (Kartu Tanda Penduduk) as well.

De facto, I am a resident of Kabupaten Tangerang. De jure, I still hold Jakarta's citizenship identity card. And most of us who hold Jakarta's identity card but live in the surrounding areas, decline to give over the identity card.

And so, while I still have the right to participate in Jakarta's governor election, I choose to vote. As reported in news media, participation rate in this governor election was only about 65%. In Pejompongan, where my parents live now, participation rate was between 65% and 75%. Even my younger sisters did not use their rights to vote.

May the elected governor can bring Jakarta into a nice living city, better than ever.