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Indonesian Highlights and Insights in News
Indonesian Highlights and Insights in News
Govt_Politic
KPU: Voters Participation In 2024 Election Throughout Indonesia Only 68%
Thursday, 05 Dec 2024
The General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia has revealed data regarding public participation in the 2024 regional head elections (pilkada). KPU Chairman M. Afifudin reported that the total voter participation across Indonesia for the pilkada stands at only 68 percent. "According to our records, the participation rate is 68 percent nationwide. Thus, the national average is approximately 68 percent," stated Afifudin during a meeting with Commission II of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Afif acknowledged that this percentage is low and emphasized the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the 2024 Simultaneous Pilkada. "What we can convey is that, first, we must conduct a thorough evaluation. This includes both our internal policies and the broader situational context," Afif noted.
He further indicated that the simultaneous pilkada and the 2024 elections, including both the presidential and legislative elections occurring in the same year, will be considered in future evaluations to determine whether this has impacted the low voter participation.
Researcher from the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), Denny JA, Adjie Alfaraby, identified reasons for the increase in the number of abstentions in the 2024 Pilkada across seven provinces. The first factor is the proximity of the 2024 elections to the pilkada, which has diminished public interest and led to voter fatigue.
"Firstly, there is election fatigue. Attention and energy have already been expended during the presidential and legislative elections in 2024. Consequently, the pilkada has become less appealing," Adjie remarked during an online release of the LSI Denny JA survey on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
The second factor is the perceived lack of charisma among the candidates. This is particularly evident in Jakarta and North Sumatra.
"The more favored candidates in those regions, such as Anies Baswedan and Ahok in Jakarta, have been slow to enter the political arena," Adjie added.
The third factor contributing to the high rate of abstention in local elections is the growing skepticism among the public regarding the ability of regional leaders to effect meaningful change in their lives. According to Adjie, citizens increasingly believe that significant decisions impacting their lives are primarily determined by the central government.
"This is due to the numerous populist programs from the central government that directly address the needs of the lower strata of society," Adjie stated.
The final factor is the rise in political apathy, which has been exacerbated by political polarization, corruption, and the extravagant lifestyles of certain government officials.
"The issues of political polarization, governmental corruption, and the opulence displayed by some state officials have significantly heightened political apathy," Adjie remarked.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya has opened the possibility of revising the electoral system, including rescheduling the presidential elections and local elections. This consideration arises from an evaluation of the low voter participation rate in the 2024 local elections.
"(Revising the interval between presidential and local elections) is still a possibility, as these proposals have been presented to us. Suggestions include separating local elections from legislative elections or further distinguishing between national and local elections," Bima stated at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, December 2, 2024.
Bima believes that one of the reasons for the low participation rate is public fatigue due to the closely spaced election schedules.
"Yes, this may also be attributed to the fatigue resulting from the proximity of the legislative, presidential, and local elections," Bima added. (srirahayu@insightinnews.com)
