The 2024 regional elections will be the fifth and largest simultaneous regional head elections in Indonesia, covering 545 provinces, regencies, and cities. They will also be the first local elections to be held in the same year as the national elections.
But long before that, Indonesia had actually held direct regional elections since 2005, although they hadn’t been implemented simultaneously. Following the implementation of regional autonomy, there was a strong enthusiasm for realizing direct democracy not only at the national level but also at the local level. Many observers and political scholars believe that regional elections are the best mechanism for ensuring the decentralization of political power, thus creating a more equal relationship between the central and regional governments, and allowing local communities to directly elect their leaders.
The implementation of direct regional elections in the reform era was also intended as a correction to pseudo-New Order-style democratic practices. Regional heads were previously selected and recommended by the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) to be appointed later by the President, resulting in regional heads merely becoming an extension of the president’s power. Through direct regional elections, it is hoped that the principle of popular sovereignty, which is the main essence of democracy, can be realized. Therefore, the existence of free, fair and inclusive regional elections is the main prerequisite for realizing the essence of direct democracy and its benefits for regional communities.
Of course, in practice, regional elections in Indonesia still pose a number of problems and challenges. The practice of vote buying and vote buying, the neutrality of state officials, the narrowing of the political arena due to dynastic and oligarchic politics, the politicization of ethnic, religious, racial, and intergroup (SARA) identity and gender issues, and low levels of political accountability and representation are some of the crucial issues frequently highlighted by the public.
On the one hand, regional election trends in Indonesia demonstrate that public enthusiasm for voter participation remains high. However, on the other hand, this enthusiasm has not been matched by sufficient knowledge and literacy regarding the essence and purpose of regional elections, the vision, mission, and track records of prospective leaders, and the importance of upholding the broader goals of democracy through more meaningful voter participation.
The Empowered Voter Pocketbook, Pilkada Edition, is presented as part of PUSKAPOL UI’s efforts to contribute to the success of regional elections and strengthen the people’s sovereignty in democracy by empowering the public to become empowered voters. The book’s primary objective is simple: to bridge the gap between voter participation and literacy regarding regional elections. Therefore, this book contains important information on the nature and effectiveness of regional elections, as well as what voters should do to ensure that their participation in them is significant and beneficial for strengthening democracy in the regions.
We hope this book will not only serve as a practical guide for voters, but also as a political education tool that can be utilized by election organizers, civil society, community groups, and even higher education institutions and schools. As a campus research institute that has long focused on issues of democracy and electoral politics, PUSKAPOL UI hopes this initiative will make a positive contribution to efforts to strengthen democracy in Indonesia.
Finally, I hope this book is useful.
Jakarta, November 16, 2024
Director of the PUSKAPOL LPPSP FISIP UI
Baca: Empowered Voter Pocket Book: Regional Election Edition
