President Jokowi’s Government Continues to Call for Peaceful and Democratic Regional Elections
By: Sabrina Aulia )*
Peaceful and democratic regional head elections (Pilkada) not only ensure that the election process runs fairly, but also maintain social harmony in society. When Pilkada is carried out peacefully, the risk of conflict and chaos can be minimized. This is considered important by President Jokowi’s government because high political tensions can damage relations between citizens and disrupt regional stability.
A healthy democracy requires space for various political aspirations. Democratic Pilkada allows each candidate to convey their vision and mission freely, without pressure or intimidation. The people must also be given the freedom to vote according to their conscience without any undue influence. Thus, the results of the Pilkada will reflect the true will of the people.
One of the main keys to ensuring peaceful and democratic Pilkada is to increase public understanding of the election process. Effective voter education will help the public understand the importance of their voting rights and how to choose the right candidate. With adequate knowledge, voters will be better able to make rational decisions and avoid manipulation.
The government through the Ministry of Communication and Information continues to appeal to the Indonesian people, especially voters in the 2024 Peaceful Regional Elections to be smart voters by not being fooled by hoax information, let alone spreading hoax news or other negative content.
In 2024, the Indonesian nation will hold a democratic party, namely the simultaneous election for the President and Vice President (Pilpres) and the legislative general election (Pileg) to elect members of the DPR, DPD, provincial DPRD, and district/city DPRD which will be held on February 14, 2024 and the election of regional heads and deputy heads (Pilkada) in November 2024.
This is a special opportunity for the Indonesian nation and state to realize a quality democratic life so that positive results for the next five years can be enjoyed by all people without exception.
The percentage of voters who fall into the category of young voters based on the 2024 Election Permanent Voter List issued by the Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU) reached approximately 52 percent of the 204,807,222 voters in Indonesia.
The large number of young voters in the 2024 Election is a challenge for the Election organizers, where the current problem is that in addition to the level of knowledge and understanding of young voters regarding politics which is still considered low, there is also the possibility of being faced with the rampant hoaxes that are spread on social media.
Elections are a celebration of democracy, a celebration of excitement, so the Indonesian people should be smart voters by using their voting rights intelligently and expressing their opinions intelligently.
Hoax spreaders only want to fool the public. So vote according to your respective choices, but still respect and appreciate each other’s choices. Don’t let chaos occur, let alone mobilize (spread hoaxes). Because whoever is elected is certainly for the good and progress of the nation and this country.
Religious figure, Ustad Asep Somantri and as Dai Kamtibmas Polsek Cikampek Kec Cikampek, Karawang, invited the people of Cikampek sub-district, Karawang Regency to make the 2024 simultaneous regional elections a success, safe and peaceful.
The community must maintain unity, and must not be easily provoked by false issues, hoax news, and it is hoped that there will be no anarchic demonstrations with the aim of breaking the unity and order of society in the midst of the democratic party in the Implementation of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections that are Peaceful.
Community participation in the Pilkada process is very important to ensure that the Pilkada runs well. Community involvement in monitoring, discussion, and public dialogue can help create a more democratic atmosphere and reduce the potential for conflict. The community must also be proactive in reporting any form of violation or action that damages the integrity of the Pilkada.
Peaceful and democratic Pilkada is an important foundation for a healthy and stable democratic system. All parties, from the government, election institutions, candidates, to the community, have a responsibility to ensure that the Pilkada process runs smoothly. By following the steps mentioned above, we can together create a Pilkada that is not only fair, but also harmonious and sustainable.
Let us all commit to maintaining integrity and peace in every stage of the Pilkada, for a better democratic future and a more prosperous society.
)* The author is an observer of domestic politics
