4 Crucial Issues in Preparing for the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections

According to Constitutional Law Lecturer Titi Anggraini, there are four crucial issues in the Regional Head Election (Pilkada). The first issue is budget availability. Even though all regions have signed the Regional Grant Agreement Document (NPHD) for holding the 2024 Pilkada, the Pilkada funds still need to be disbursed on time. Budget problems always occur in every regional election. In the 2018 Pilkada, 132 regions provided budgets too close to the initial stages of the Pilkada. In the 2020 regional elections, 34 regions did not sign the NPHD on time.

“NPHD must ensure that the budget is not only available but disbursed according to the required time frame,” said Constitutional Law Lecturer at the University of Indonesia, Titi Anggraini, in the discussion “Welcoming Simultaneous Regional Elections” broadcast by TVRI on Friday (7/6).

The second crucial issue is the control of regional election regulations by ad hoc election organizing personnel. Titi encouraged election organizers to provide adequate capacity strengthening to ad hoc organizers so as not to cause confusion or technical problems in the field.

“Moreover, there are a number of differences in the rules for elections and regional elections that, if not properly mastered, could give rise to confusion and technical problems in the field,” he said.

Another crucial issue is regulatory readiness. A number of KPU regulations are currently in the process of being prepared. Reflecting on previous regional elections, KPU regulations are often passed close to the stage. In fact, KPU regulations need to get input from the public and be socialized to all stakeholders.

“The hope is that technical regulations as well as further implementation of laws or court decisions can be prepared on time, not too late, so that they can be socialized well, and of course we can hear public input,” said Titi.

Titi also views the socialization of the Pilkada stages and political education for the public as crucial issues. The public, as voters, needs to understand the meaning of direct regional elections, crucial issues in regional elections in their respective regions, as well as the stages of regional elections. Good public understanding and critical thinking regarding regional elections will encourage active supervision by the public.

“So that the community is not only mobilized on the big day, but there is a strong bond to oversee the ongoing stages,” he concluded. []