Quick Count Result Cannot be Used to Declare Winner

Jakarta (Antara) - The results of quick vote counts must not be used as the basis to declare a winner of presidential election as it has no legal ground, a law expert said. "The quick count results by pollsters have no legal basis. So, the winner of presidential election should not be decided based on quick counts," Mudzakkir of Islam Indonesia University said in a written statement released on Thursday. It is unethical to claim to be a winner based on quick vote count results, he said. "The General Elections Commission (KPU) should stipulate it (the result of quick vote count) in its regulation on quick vote count," he stressed. He said a survey agency is required to explain the method and error margin or accuracy level of its result, otherwise its academic reputation will be on the line. "A pollster must explain (its method) to its users, including the risk of taking as reference the quick vote count results," he said. If the accuracy level is low, the public confidence in the results will also be low, he said. Therefore, the KPU should evaluate incredible pollsters. (*) Reported by Azis Kurmala