Democratic Deficit in Election Year

At the end of 2019, some of us are worried about the future of democracy. At the beginning of the year, some of us were worried about the prospect of the (simultaneous) general election.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (at the microphone) and Ma’ruf Amin (second left), his running mate in the 2019 presidential election, speaks in June (30/6/2019) after the General Election Commission (KPU) determined them to have been the elected president and vice president for the 2019 to 2024 term. The Jokowi and Ma’ruf pair got 85,607,362 votes, 55.5 percent of the total national eligible votes.

When the 2019 simultaneous election ended, there was a relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted off our shoulders. The public expressed appreciation. According to some surveys, the majority of respondents considered the elections fair. However, their implementation was not without problems.

From a series of quality election indicators, some need careful attention. First, the 2019 simultaneous elections confirm that the implementation of elections in the Reform Era is still looking for its form. An impression of trial and error is unescapable. The rules of the game do not only continue to change from one election to the next but are also marked by legal uncertainty. Examples of the latter include rules on former corruption convicts running for office, requirements for candidates for the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and also the verification of parties participating in the election.