Money Politics and Vote Brokers

KOMPAS/DIDIE SW

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“Money politics” was still a threat in the implementation of the third volume of simultaneous regional head elections. Its number was increasing ahead of polling day.

Money politics is an Indonesian term to describe all kinds of corrupt behavior in general elections, from political corruption to clientelism and from vote-buying to fraud (Daniel Bumke: 2001). In regional elections, money politics is associated with buying and selling votes. Article 73 Paragraph (1) of Law No. 10/2016 explains that candidates and/or campaign teams are prohibited from promising and/or providing money or other goods to influence election organizers and/or voters.

Initially, the term money politics referred to the distribution of money carried out during the night until dawn on the day of voting. Next there was the term "post-paid" money politics, following a change in the modus operandi for distributing money or goods. If previously it was given ahead of the vote, the new method was to pay after the vote. To be eligible for the payment, voters had to provide photographic evidence of having ticked the box for a particular regional candidate on the ballot.

Election organizers and civil society organizations have not been standing by idly in the face of money politics. From strengthening the rules and explaining the risks and punishment for both the giver and receiver of money, to inviting regional election candidates to make public commitments to integrity, fairness and honestly. In reality, however, money politics still taints the implementation of regional elections.

Several surveys show that money still affects voter choices. The LSI Denny JA Survey in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election showed that 47.8 percent of the voters were influenced by money politics, as did the Indo Barometer survey in the Banten gubernatorial election of 2017. A total of 45.6 percent claimed to have received money and admitted to choosing candidates who gave money or goods.

KOMPAS/DIONISIUS REYNALDO TRIWIBOWO

C6-KWK sheets, or invitation letters for voters, presented as evidence of violations at Polling Station 25 in Pahandut district, Palangkaraya City, Central Kalimantan, are taken out of the ballot box, which was reopened by officials of the district election supervisory committee on Thursday (28/6/2018).

Vote brokers

No candidates or campaign teams in regional elections openly engage in money politics. Besides being easily recognizable by political opponents, the risks of such behavior would also be great. If proven to engage in money politics, their nomination may be canceled. Therefore, the "dirty task" is done by vote brokers.

Basically, a vote broker is a shadow campaign supporter or team. The broker’s primary duty is to influence voters in general in unlawful ways, such as through money politics or intimidation. Therefore, their names are not registered with the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Vote brokers can be individuals or groups from various circles. They generally have extensive networks and influence in the community, such as religious leaders, community leaders, local entrepreneurs, activists, regional administration or village officials or caretakers of neighborhood units and neighborhood communities.

The role and position of vote brokers is very important, even though they are not formally linked to any candidate. This keeps the candidate safe even in the event that the broker is caught and proven to have engaged in money politics.

To develop winning strategies, they provide maps and information about the voters needed. Moreover, the vote brokers can ensure the distribution of money or goods to voters, so that it is more controllable, fast and on target. Finally, an important task of the vote broker is to ensure that voters execute their voting right for the “right” regional head candidate.

ANTARA FOTO/MAULANA SURYA

Students make a theatrical performance in an action against money politics on Jalan Urip Sumoharjo, Solo, Central Java, Tuesday (26/6/2018). They invited residents to reject the practice of money politics to buy the right to vote in the simultaneous regional election on Wednesday (27/6).

Fighting money politics

Money politics is bad for the implementation of regional elections, for voters themselves and the future of the regions. The competition among candidates becomes unfair, voters become more pragmatic, and candidates who win because of money politics will likely continue in their fraudulent ways by misusing their authority when in power.

Heavier punishment is a step forward, because it can discourage candidates and their campaign teams. However, that deterrent effect will not materialize if no one is punished amid a lack of evidence. That means, there must be an effort to strengthen supervision.

Proving the practice of money politics is similarly complicated as proving bribery, as both the giver and recipient agree to cover up their action so that no trace is left.

Therefore, the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) should maximize its cooperation with law enforcement authorities, such as the police, prosecutors and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). These institutions have many instruments and expertise in uncovering bribery. It should also encourage as many community members as possible to become "agents" of supervision. Cooperation with non-governmental organizations, social and religious organizations is important. The more people take part in the supervision, the more difficult it will be for vote brokers to carry out their actions.

ANTARA FOTO/ADITYA PRADANA PUTRA

An official presents the results of ballot counting at the General Elections Commission (KPU) offices in Semarang, Central Java, Wednesday (27/6/2018). Besides the real-count results of the Central Java regional elections, the KPU also presented the real-count results of regional elections throughout Indonesia through the infopilkada.kpu.go.id website, which is accessible for the general public.

Upstream efforts need to focus on eliminating funding sources for money politics. Restrictions on donations, the prohibition of donations from certain sources and obligations to report campaign funds can limit the options for candidates in regional elections to resort to illicit ways, such as money politics. However, unfortunately, existing rules are not used to their fullest extent. Campaign fund reporting seems to be only an administrative matter.

Regional head candidates and their campaign teams can easily manipulate reports on campaign revenues and expenses. As a result, campaign fund reports do not reflect the actual transactions. Moreover, audits by public accounting firms only focus on the aspect of compliance in the report presentation.

Regional head candidates must be forced to record and report campaign funds honestly and openly. This can be done by encouraging investigative audits on campaign funding reports. Candidates who are found to have manipulated or not recorded all financial transactions are severely punished, such as by nullifying their candidacy or victory.

Finally, what is equally important is education of the community. It should not only explain the criminal sanctions for recipients of money politics, but the most important thing is to make regional elections part of the fight against corruption and for prosperity. Therefore, an appeal to reject money politics should be followed by a call to report perpetrators. Not the other way around: Encouraging people to accept basic necessities or money from vote brokers.

Ade Irawan, Deputy Coordinator, Indonesia Corruption Watch