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What now for Indonesia after poll dispute?

By WTOP Staff

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and former army general Prabowo Subianto are both claiming victory in Indonesia’s presidential election based on unofficial “quick counts,” raising the specter of prolonged political instability in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.

Here is a look at which candidate has the stronger case for claiming victory, and what might happen in the coming days and weeks.

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WHAT IS A QUICK COUNT?

Researchers tally votes at a random sample of polling stations, allowing them to make a reliable projection of the national vote. Civil society organizations have used the method to accurately forecast election results in scores of countries over the last 15 years. Proponents say making this data available reduces the risk of fraud in the aggregation process. Quick counts have accurately forecast the results of regional and national elections in Indonesia since 2009.

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WHAT HAS HAPPENED THIS TIME AROUND IN INDONESIA?

At least 12 organizations, among them research groups and media organizations, carried out their own quick counts. Of those, eight show Widodo with a lead of between 4 percent and 5 percent. The rest project a Subianto victory by between 1 percent and 4 percent. Most of those projecting a Widodo victory have been carried out by independent organizations with a long track record of running quick counts and other opinion surveys, and have predicted the results of earlier elections, making them far more credible. Two of those projecting a Subianto win have been carried out by television stations openly supporting his bid.

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WHAT NOW?

All eyes are on the Election Commission of Indonesia, which is counting the votes and says it will announce them by July 22. If Widodo wins, as is considered highly likely given the quick count data, then Subianto could challenge the vote in the Constitutional Court if he can find evidence of fraud or other irregularities. Judges can reject the petition outright if they believe it lacks merit. If they agree to hear the case, they must rule before August 24.

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IS SUBIANTO LIKELY TO KEEP UP THE FIGHT?

Subianto and the business, military and political elite backing his bid have invested many millions in trying to win the election. Most analysts don’t expect them to give up now. But Subianto faces an uphill challenge. Few expect that he will concede on the basis of the quick counts, but public opinion is likely to turn against him if official results show that he has lost decisively. Widodo fears that voter fraud could still take place, and has urged his supporters to closely monitor the count. Corruption remains rampant in Indonesia and many of its state institutions are vulnerable to political pressure and bribery. Last month, the former head of the Constitutional Court was sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting bribes while ruling on a regional election dispute.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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