On Sunday, July 20, 2025, the Civil Society Coalition held a Media Discussion titled “Civil Society Version of the Draft Election Law: Electoral System Design” at Bakoel Koffie, Central Jakarta. This discussion aimed to address the urgency of revising the Election Law and present solutions from civil society to create a more democratic, inclusive, and fair electoral system. The event featured speakers from the House of Representatives (DPR), the Ministry of Home Affairs, and representatives from civil society coalitions (Perludem and PUSaKO) as part of an effort to promote participatory legislation. The civil society version of the Election Bill codification proposes a mixed system between closed-list proportional representation and single-member plurality, based on the principles of equal representation and empowered voters.
Background: The Urgency of Evaluating the Election Law and Designing a More Inclusive Electoral System
The 2024 simultaneous elections demonstrated that the current electoral system has not yet fulfilled the principles of fair and democratic representation. Law No. 7 of 2017 is considered to have structural weaknesses in its institutional design and technical procedures, ranging from voters’ difficulty in identifying candidates to the heavy burden placed on election organizers.
In response to this, several civil society organizations formulated the Civil Society Version of the Election Bill Codification. This draft not only simplifies regulations scattered across various laws but also offers comprehensive updates to ensure the electoral system is more inclusive, effective, and democratic.
Perspectives of the Speakers
The discussion featured four speakers from the legislative and executive sectors, as well as civil society representatives:
1. Khoirunnisa Nur Agustyati (Executive Director of Perludem)
Stated that the civil society version of the codification was born out of a concern for substantive democracy. “We want a system that does not just fulfill procedures, but also provides equal space for women, people with disabilities, and youth to engage in electoral politics.”
2. Bima Arya (Vice Minister of Home Affairs)
The Vice Minister of Home Affairs emphasized how the electoral system directly impacts the quality of governance, especially at the local level. He stressed the importance of electoral reform that goes beyond technical procedures to improve the relationship between the people and state institutions, as well as to increase public trust.
3. Muhammad Rifqinizamy Karsayuda (Chair of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives)
Affirmed that the revision of the Election Law is part of strengthening democracy. The electoral system must not only serve the elite but must guarantee fair representation. He welcomed the civil society initiative and stated that the DPR is ready to involve the public in future legislative discussions.
4. Charles Simabura (Director of PUSaKO)
Discussed the importance of encouraging internal reform within political parties. According to him, as long as parties are controlled by certain elites, democracy will not develop healthily. This civil society-proposed bill is expected to compel parties to be more open, transparent, and accountable.
This media discussion serves as an important momentum to expand public participation in the legislative process of the Election Law. The codification proposed by civil society not only addresses procedural challenges but also presents a vision for a more inclusive and sustainable democracy. This activity also provides a space to bring together policymakers, academics, and civil society to discuss the future of Indonesia’s electoral system.
Download and learn more: Civil Society Proposal for the Draft Election Law (Draft Bill File)
Watch the replay of this media discussion on Perludem’s YouTube channel.
