Evaluating the regional elections amid the COVID-19 outbreak

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Ahead of the South Tangerang mayoral election in 2020, billboards, banners and posters of a number of public figures and political parties are installed in public spaces, such as roadsides in South Tangerang city, Banten, as seen on Sunday (24/11/2019).

The correct decision to finally postpone 270 local elections has been made. They were originally intended to occur on Sept. 23.

The postponement was enacted in Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 2/2020 on Regional Elections (Pilkada), which was signed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on May 4. It would be very risky if elections were forced while the pandemic is ongoing.

The next issue is how long the elections must be postponed. In the discussion, three options appeared: December 2020, March 2021 and September 2021. Perppu No. 2/2020 establishes a three-month delay until December 2020.

Also read : Postpone Elections, Focus on Covid-19

This means that there is an assumption that the nation will be free of the pandemic by the end of May. If the election is carried out in December 2020, its preparation stage must begin in early June 2020, starting from the inauguration of the Subdistrict Voting Committees (PPS), factual verification of the requirements of support for individual candidates, the formation of Voter Data Update Committees (PPDP) and updating and compiling the voter list.

Of course, we all hope that our country will soon be free of the pandemic. However, is that hope realistic considering that there are only 20 days left? On Friday, 336 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were announced. Of the 13,112 total confirmed cases, 9,675 were still being treated, 2,494 had recovered and 943 had died.

Also read : Coronavirus and Politics

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

Live streaming statement from the commissioner of the General Elections Commission related to the anticipation of the spread of Covid-19 in the holding of the 2020 Regional Election at the Bawaslu Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (17/3/2020).

The world continues to search for drugs and vaccines. Before the discovery of drugs and vaccines, a return to normal will be hard to imagine. No one can confirm when the pandemic will end.

This condition will certainly be a challenge for the General Election Commission (KPU). On the one hand, it must ensure that regional elections run democratically and their quality improves. On the other hand, it must ensure their implementation according to health protocols to prevent new clusters and additional waves of transmission as a result of the mass movement of regional election organizers, participants and voters.

Without proper adjustments, the regional elections will not be optimal and political participation may drop.

The COVID-19 pandemic demands a new normal. Physical interaction is restricted; there is an obligation to wear a mask, keep distance, wash hands and encourage all activities to be done digitally. Without proper adjustments, the regional elections will not be optimal and political participation may drop.

Article 201A, paragraph 3 of Perppu No. 2/2020 opens the possibility for the postponement or rescheduling of the simultaneous elections after the non-natural disaster ends. This is where wisdom is needed to assess it clearly.

This assessment should not be based on political self-interest, fearing that the political map will change. The main consideration should be the safety of the nation: the safety of organizers, the safety of participants, the safety of voters and the safety of democratic practices.