COVID-19 Health Protocol Violations Increase

As the 2020 simultaneous regional elections near, violations of COVID-19 health protocols are getting more rampant. A regulation in lieu of law, therefore, is necessary to strengthen the prevention of violations

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

The candidate pair for governor and deputy governor of South Kalimantan, Denny Indrayana-Difriadi Darjat (wearing flowers) was paraded by a mass of supporters when registering with the South Kalimantan General Election Commission in Banjarmasin, on Saturday (5/9/2020).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Violations of health protocols imposed to curb COVID-19 transmission have begun to increase. A regulation in lieu of law (Perppu), therefore, is necessary to strengthen the enforcement and the punishments for those who violate protocols, undermining public health and the quality of the elections.

General Elections Commission regulation (PKPU) No. 13/2020 on the implementation of the 2020 regional elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic is the legal foundation for handling violations of COVID-19 health protocols. Article 88 of the regulation stipulates that the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) will punish violations with letters of reprimand. If the offenders ignore the written reprimand, Bawaslu can recommend that the police impose a stricter punishment based on established laws.