On 16 October 2021, the Selection Committee for Candidates of the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) for the 2022–2027 term held a public consultation regarding the selection process for election organizers. In the discussion, which involved around 40 NGOs working on election issues, the committee presented several key points:
The timeline for the selection stages is very tight, due to the provisions in Law No. 7/2017 which limit the committee’s working period to three months. Despite these time constraints, the committee emphasized that the quality of the selection process should not be compromised. Among all stages, the longest duration is allocated to the registration period to ensure that the public has sufficient time and opportunity to apply.
The committee called on NGOs to support and encourage qualified individuals to apply as candidates for KPU and Bawaslu membership. The quality of these institutions will significantly influence the future of Indonesia’s democracy.
Public input can be submitted after the announcement of Stage I results (17 November 2021) and Stage II results (3 December 2021). In addition to receiving public feedback, the committee will conduct background checks covering criminal records, financial history, digital footprint, social track record, ethical violations recorded by the Honorary Council of Election Organizers (DKPP), and other relevant aspects.
The written test will continue to use the Computer Assisted Test (CAT) system and will be conducted centrally in Jakarta.
During the administrative review stage, the committee will only assess the completeness of required documents. As long as applicants meet the administrative requirements set by law, the committee cannot eliminate candidates at this stage.
The committee also seeks public recommendations for potential candidates and input on additional criteria for KPU and Bawaslu members beyond those stipulated by law, tailored to the needs of the 2022–2027 period.
Support from civil society is especially needed to encourage qualified women to apply, ensuring a strong pool of female candidates. The committee agreed that an understanding of gender justice should be one of the criteria in the selection process.
Technology is expected to play an increasingly important role in elections, regardless of whether e-voting is implemented. Therefore, candidates’ ability to utilize technology will be an important consideration.
Transparency will be maintained in accordance with regulations, but confidential information will not be disclosed. Such information is reserved for investigative purposes and cannot be made public. For example, if a candidate is disqualified due to suspicious financial transactions, the committee will not publicly disclose that reason.
The committee is also considering opening a YouTube channel to share information with the public.
During this consultation, the Center for Political Studies at the University of Indonesia (Puskapol UI) also presented its views on the selection process, delivered by researcher Delia Wildianti:
Puskapol UI appreciates the committee’s effort to open communication with civil society and hopes that this openness will continue throughout the selection process.
The selection of election organizers is a crucial and strategic issue that will attract significant public attention. Therefore, the committee’s work will be closely monitored. Puskapol UI encourages the committee to maintain independence and produce candidates who meet the criteria set by law.
The fit and proper test in the House of Representatives is likely to be dominated by political considerations. Therefore, the candidates submitted by the committee to the President, and subsequently to Commission II of the House, must be the best individuals selected through a professional, transparent, and high-quality process.
The complexity of the 2024 elections requires leadership with strong experience and capacity in electoral management, integrity, a sound gender perspective, competence in technological innovation, and a clean record free from serious ethical violations.
Puskapol UI also emphasizes the importance of a gender justice perspective. In accordance with Articles 9(2) and 75(10) of Law No. 7/2017, the composition of KPU and Bawaslu membership should include at least 30% women. Representation at the national level can also encourage increased female representation at provincial and local levels, where many regions still lack women in leadership roles.
Some members of the current selection committee were also involved in the Ombudsman selection process, which resulted in no female representation. This was seen as a setback for democracy and gender equality. It is hoped that this will not be repeated in the current selection process.
Regarding background checks, Puskapol UI considers them essential. However, it remains unclear at which stage they will be conducted. Based on the announced schedule, the administrative review stage lasts only six days, while previous selection processes, such as in 2016, saw a large number of applicants, 325 for KPU and 239 for Bawaslu.
As part of the Civil Society Coalition for Safeguarding the 2024 Elections, Puskapol UI will continue to monitor the selection process. The committee is expected to remain open to criticism and input in order to ensure a transparent, independent, inclusive process that produces capable and high-integrity election organizers.
This information is also available on Puskapol UI’s Instagram Puskapol UI
