MAKE SIMULTANEOUS REGIONAL ELECTIONS A SUCCESS AS A REALIZATION OF NATIONAL DEFENSE

Written by: Rega Feriansyah, Social and Political Observer

Currently, Indonesia is following the stages of National and regional Leader succession in 2024. In order to make this a success, support from all Indonesian people is needed. The 2024 simultaneous Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) in Indonesia are one of the major agendas in the democratic system in Indonesia.

The success of this Pilkada is very important to maintain political stability and sustainable development in various regions. The General Election and Pilkada were held simultaneously in the same year in 2024. The Election was held on February 14, 2024 to elect the President and Vice President, Members of the DPR, DPD, Provincial DPRD and Regency/City DPRD. Meanwhile, the Pilkada was held on November 27, 2024 to elect the Governor and Deputy Governor, Regent and Deputy Regent, and/or Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The provisions regarding the simultaneous regional elections in 2024 are regulated through Article 201 Paragraph (8) of Law Number 10 of 2016 which states that the national simultaneous voting in the election of Governor and Deputy Governor, Regent and Deputy Regent, and/or Mayor and Deputy Mayor throughout Indonesia will be held in November 2024. The concept of direct, general, free, secret, honest and fair elections for people’s representatives is carried out every five years as mandated by Article 22E paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution. However, in its implementation, such elections can only be realized if voters cast their votes according to adequate and correct information. As is known, the next simultaneous elections and regional head elections (regional elections/elections) will be held in 2024.

Where in one year, the public will exercise their right to vote with so many candidates for public officials. One of the elements of the success of the election cannot be separated from the role of the election organizers. The Election Law states that the election organizers consist of the General Election Commission (KPU), the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), and the Election Organizer Honorary Council (DKPP). These three institutions are a single function of organizers with different portions of duties.

There are differences in the roles of the organizers. The KPU functions as the technical implementer of the election stages. Bawaslu has a supervisory function for all the main stages, where those supervised start from election participants, the community and election organizers, in this case the KPU. Meanwhile, the DKPP has the function of maintaining the ethics of election organizers, both the KPU and Bawaslu. This is done so that election organizers maintain their integrity and are trusted by the community. The code of ethics is one way to maintain our ethics as election organizers. Election organizers are expected to be able to implement and organize the 2024 Election properly, professionally, with integrity and transparently. It must be admitted that election organizers will face many complexities in the 2024 Election.

The complexity in question is that the workload will increase. The implementation of the election stages in 2024 will not run smoothly as expected if there is no reconstruction (reorganization) and harmonization of regulations. With the Election Law and the Regional Election Law unchanged, the hope for regulatory arrangements for the technicalities of each election stage is now in the KPU Regulation (PKPU). Both the Election Law and the Regional Election Law give the KPU the authority to form a PKPU as the implementation of the law. This authority is an opportunity for the KPU to regulate and anticipate problems in the implementation of previous elections and elections.

However, based on the principle of the hierarchy of legal norms, of course the norms in the PKPU must not conflict with the regulatory instruments above it, in this case the Election Law and the Regional Election Law and other related laws. The PKPU that will be prepared and enacted must pay attention to the time frame and its discussion must also be carried out carefully. This means that the determination of the PKPU must be carried out well before the start of the stages, so that there is time for the organizers to understand the substance of the regulations in the norms in the PKPU.

Internalization and Technical Guidance (Bimtek) must be detailed so that the perception of the organizers is truly complete to avoid mistakes and violations in carrying out tasks. As a state agenda, the General Election and Regional Election will not always run smoothly but will face obstacles, threats and disturbances. For this reason, it is important for the community to foster awareness of defending the country in making the 2024 Simultaneous Election a success. This awareness of defending the country must be fostered so that the unity and integrity of the nation is not easily broken. It must be admitted that building awareness of defending the country in the community is not easy, it requires methods and strategies that must be carried out by the Government, KPU and Regional Bawaslu throughout Indonesia

So it can be concluded that the success of the 2024 simultaneous regional elections is highly dependent on the active role of all parties, including the government, election organizers, candidates, political parties, and the wider community. With good cooperation and commitment to the principles of democracy, it is hoped that the 2024 simultaneous regional elections can run smoothly and produce regional leaders who are trustworthy and able to bring progress to their respective regions.