Workers help the polling committee distribute logistics for the Jakarta regional elections at Pondok Pinang subdistrict office, South Jakarta, Tuesday (14/2). The distribution of the logistics was guarded by apparatuses of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police.
The 1998 reform movement restored the people’s sovereignty to choose their own regional leaders. The regional elections are being held on Wednesday, Feb. 15.
The concurrent regional elections in 101 regions, including the capital city of Jakarta, are the fruit of the reformation struggle. The right to choose a regional leader is the people’s political right and guaranteed by the Constitution. There should be no fear or doubt when voting for regional leaders believed to be able to bring about the necessary changes to make people’s lives better. Regional leaders who are believed to be able to turn procedural democracy into a more substantial democracy that improves the condition of the region.
In such a context, the General Elections Commission (KPU) must be able to ensure that the political right of the people eligible to vote is not annulled because of administrative problems, such as not receiving voting invitation letters or not obtaining electronic ID cards. The people’s political right must be guaranteed.
Common sense is needed in choosing leaders. Voters need not be enticed by the material rewards usually offered ahead of elections. Also do not let democracy be hijacked by capital strength through money politics or irrational promises used to persuade voters. Have a clear mind when observing social media.
We encourage eligible voters to use their right responsibly. Through various communication devices, voters can monitor the vote count and its results. Voting predictions at a number of polling stations will be known a few hours after the polling stations close. A number of institutions conduct quick counts to predict the election’s outcome.
The quick count results are only a prediction. The quick count results from professional institutions with a good track record can be used as an early prediction to fulfill the people’s need for regional election information. However, the people need to understand that the only institution with the authority to announce the official result is the KPU.
We hope that the poll organizers, candidate pairs and their success teams, as well as security personnel from the National Police and the Indonesian Military, can continue to maintain the positive situation during the regional elections today and until the results are announced. The contestants have to have the mentality to readily and willingly accept the election’s outcome. Any disappointment in the election implementation can be expressed through existing mechanisms, either through the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) or the Constitutional Court. Successful regional elections will further establish Indonesia as a country evolving into a mature democracy.
