Safety and Quality of Regional Elections Maintained

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Officers prepare the logistics for the 2020 simultaneous regional elections (Pilkada) at the General Election Commission (KPU) Logistics Warehouse of Banjarmasin city, South Kalimantan, Friday (4/12/2020). Pilkada logistics, including personal protective equipment (PPE) in South Kalimantan, are confirmed to be ready to be distributed.

Safety measures to protect against the further spread of COVID-19 is an added factor to consider for the 2020 regional head elections.

Security considerations amid the COVID-10 pandemic have postponed the 2020 regional head elections from Sept. 23 to Dec. 9. The decision was made at a meeting between House of Representatives Commission II and the government and the election organizers on Sept. 21.

Also read: Strengthening COVID-19 Prevention at Polling Stations

At the time, Home Minister Tito Karnavian said it was impossible to postpone the elections because no one could say when the pandemic would end anyway. Moreover, the elections would allow the public to immediately elect a leader who may be more capable in tackling the pandemic. Holding the elections during the pandemic is also believed to encourage mass distribution of personal protective equipment among the public. Another reason is that the elections could also stimulate the economy. (Kompas, 22/9/2020).

However, that record has long been broken, as Indonesia just reported an additional 8,369 COVID-19 cases on Dec. 3, which is double the record of Sept. 2

This decision was also made when national COVID-19 cases showed a significant daily increase. In fact, the decision made on that day considered the record-high number of new COVID-19 cases added within a day, namely 4,176 cases. However, that record has long been broken, as Indonesia just reported an additional 8,369 COVID-19 cases on Dec. 3, which is double the record of Sept. 21.

In response to the continuous increase of COVID-19 cases, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo stated on Nov. 30 that COVID-19 handling has only worsened. The President also quoted Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero and said salus populi suprema lex esto (the salvation of the people is the highest law).

Also read: PPE Absolute Requirements

In the context of the elections, health protocols have been drawn up to protect the people from COVID-19. This provision, for example, is reflected by the spraying of disinfectant around polling stations (TPS), polling organizers (KPPS) having to use personal protective equipment and voters who will have to wear masks and gloves.

KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

Officers load personal protective equipment (PPE) for the 2020 simultaneous regional elections onto a truck before it is distributed from the General Election Commission (KPU) warehouse in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Friday (4/12/2020). The availability of complete PPE and the application of health protocols are an absolute requirement for the 2020 simultaneous regional elections. Thus, apart from providing a sense of security and comfort for voters, it also prevents the transmission of Covid-19.

However, just four days prior to the elections, there are still a number of issues in preparations for the enforcement of health protocols. First, personal protective equipment has not all been distributed. In fact, even the provision of thermometer guns and latex gloves have been hampered. In Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, there are KPPS officials who refused to take COVID-19 rapid tests.

In response to a number of these issues, General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioner Pramono U. Tanthowi reassured that thermometer guns and latex gloves have already been sent to the respective provinces holding the regional elections. House Commission II chairman Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung also advised that if the KPU is unable to meet the needs for personal protective equipment, they must seek assistance from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Home Ministry regional administration development director general Safrizal added that he had asked local administrations to help and coordinate with the KPU and the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu).

History will record how a number of statements made on protecting people’s safety in the upcoming regional elections will be realized in the field. Even though preserving democracy is important, protecting human beings is far more important.