Gap Between National and Local Simultaneous Elections
Improving the general election system is an important institutional decision in any democratic country.
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·3 minutes read
Improving the general election system is an important institutional decision in any democratic country. The ball is currently in the House of Representatives’ court and lawmakers will determine whether or not Indonesia can score a goal in the matter.
Regarding the simultaneity of elections, the Constitutional Court (MK) has ruled that policymakers hold the right to make a decision on the matter. The MK only emphasizes that, constitutionally, the legislative election must no longer be held separately from the presidential election. This is because the simultaneity of both elections is linked to the presidential system of government.
The House, which proposes revisions to Law No. 7/2017 on the general election and Law No. 10/2016 on the regional elections, will have an important role.
However, regarding the simultaneity of the general and regional elections, lawmakers will need to make a decision. The House, which proposes revisions to Law No. 7/2017 on the general election and Law No. 10/2016 on the regional elections, will have an important role.
A proper election system must facilitate all citizens in voicing their aspirations and all leadership candidates in competing fairly. Post-election, the system must encourage an effective government, a proper development of the party system and an evaluation by all citizens. With this spirit, we hope that our representatives will improve the election system, especially regarding its simultaneity.
There are at least six options divided into two groups. The first group is as follows. First, simultaneous elections are held to elect House members, Regional Representative Council (DPD) members, the president and vice president, provincial legislative councilors and city/regency councilors, similar to the 2019 simultaneous elections. Second, simultaneous elections are held to elect House members, DPD members, the president and VP, governors and mayors/regents. Third, simultaneous elections are held to elect House members, DPD members, the president and VP, provincial councilors, city/regency councilors, governors and mayors/regents.
Meanwhile, the second group is as follows. First, a national election is held to elect House members, DPD members and the president and VP and then local elections are held to elect provincial councilors, city/regency councilors, governors and mayors/regents. Second, a national election is held to elect House members, DPD members and the president and VP, then provincial elections are held to elect provincial councilors and governors, and then a city/regency election is held to elect city/regency councilors and mayors/regents. The third option is about maintaining the national election’s simultaneity of electing House and DPD members and the president and VP.
The 2019 election with its five ballot boxes were proven to confuse voters, leading to a huge number of invalid votes.
Of these variants, creating a gap between the national and local simultaneous elections is logical as the reduced numbers of ballot boxes will make things easier for voters. The 2019 election with its five ballot boxes were proven to confuse voters, leading to a huge number of invalid votes.
The gap will also help election organizers distribute supplies, count votes and monitor the election properly. Separating national and local elections will also boost the local economy. Various important local issues can be promoted. We do remember that more than 450 election officers died in the 2019 elections.