Gap Between National and Local Simultaneous Elections

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

A commissioner of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), M. Afifuddin, explains Bawaslu\'s research at the Launch of Election Vulnerability Index of the 2020 Regional Elections in Jakarta on Tuesday (25/2/2020). Based on the results of Bawaslu’s research, the average implementation of local elections in regencies/cities is in the medium vulnerable category and provincial elections in the high vulnerable category. Regional elections in 2020 will be held simultaneously on Sept. 23.

Improving the general election system is an important institutional decision in any democratic country. The ball is currently in the House of Representatives’ court and lawmakers will determine whether or not Indonesia can score a goal in the matter.

Regarding the simultaneity of elections, the Constitutional Court (MK) has ruled that policymakers hold the right to make a decision on the matter. The MK only emphasizes that, constitutionally, the legislative election must no longer be held separately from the presidential election. This is because the simultaneity of both elections is linked to the presidential system of government.