By: Gavin Asadit
The Regional Head Election (Pilkada) is an important element in Indonesian democracy that requires thorough preparation and coordination. The election process not only involves the General Election Commission as the organizing body but also various other parties including local governments, security forces, political parties, and the general public. Good coordination among all parties is crucial to ensure that the regional election process runs smoothly, fairly, and transparently.
Effective coordination among institutions is the key to ensuring that every aspect of the regional election preparations can run smoothly. For example, in North Gorontalo, the KPU held a coordination meeting with various related institutions. This meeting involves not only the KPU and local government but also security forces, educational institutions, and community organizations.
The purpose of this coordination meeting is to formulate a clear and coordinated plan regarding the roles and responsibilities of each party during the regional election process. With solid coordination, potential problems can be identified earlier and mitigation measures can be implemented effectively.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Luwu Utara KPU in South Sulawesi stated that this activity serves as coordination to prepare for the 2024 regional elections by socializing the electoral process with the aim of increasing public participation in the elections scheduled for November 27, 2024.
Furthermore, technical and logistical aspects are equally important in the preparation for the regional elections. In North Luwu Regency, the General Election Commission (KPU) has held a technical meeting to discuss various technical aspects related to the implementation of the elections. This meeting included in-depth discussions about the provision of election logistics such as ballot boxes and ballots, as well as other equipment. Additionally, the arrangement of the voting process was also discussed, including the schedule and locations of polling places. (TPS). By involving various parties in the technical meeting, every technical element of the regional elections can be well prepared, thus minimizing the potential for disruptions.
Local governments, including the regent and their staff, play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of regional elections. The Regent of Bengkalis, for example, is actively involved in the preparatory meetings for the 2024 regional elections. In the meeting, various parties gathered to discuss strategies and concrete steps that need to be taken to ensure the regional elections run successfully.
Support from the local government is not only in the form of budget allocation and infrastructure provision, but also in ensuring that the entire election process runs in accordance with the applicable regulations. The presence of the regent and other local officials in this coordination meeting demonstrates the local government’s commitment to the success of the regional elections and ensures that all related elements can function optimally.
On the other hand, the Riau Police Chief, Inspector General Mohammad Iqbal, stated that his team will continue to closely coordinate with all relevant stakeholders, including the Election Supervisory Board, the General Election Commission, the military, local government, and other community elements to secure every stage of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections, ensuring that the implementation can proceed smoothly.In the preparation for the regional elections, the integration and cooperation among various stakeholders such as the General Election Commission, local governments, security forces, political parties, and civil society organizations become very important. Each party has specific roles and responsibilities in the election process. For example, the General Election Commission is responsible for the technical organization of the election, while security forces are tasked with maintaining order and safety during the election process. Political parties play a role in providing quality candidates who are officially registered, while civil society can function as monitors and supporters of a clean and transparent electoral process.
Coordination among all parties helps avoid overlapping responsibilities, reduces potential conflicts, and ensures that each element of the regional election process can function synergistically. In addition, with the existence of coordination forums such as coordination meetings and technical meetings, each stakeholder can provide input, share information, and collaborate to address various challenges that may arise.
The preparation for the regional elections does not stop at initial planning and coordination, but also requires regular evaluation and adjustment of strategies. With the presence of an evaluation mechanism, every aspect of the regional election process can be reviewed and improved as needed, including evaluating the results of coordination meetings, conducting election simulations, and assessing logistical and technical readiness. Adjusting strategies based on evaluations will help ensure that the regional election process runs efficiently and effectively, and can address various challenges that may arise on the ground.
Cross-stakeholder coordination is a very important aspect in the preparation for regional elections. Without good cooperation between the KPU, local government, security forces, political parties, and the community, the implementation of regional elections may face various problems that could affect the quality and integrity of the election. Through coordination meetings, technical meetings, and active support from all parties, the election process can be prepared more thoroughly, and potential risks can be addressed more effectively. Therefore, it is important for all parties involved to continue to communicate, coordinate, and collaborate to ensure that the regional elections run successfully and yield results that reflect the will of the people.
)* The author is a Social and Community Issues Observer.
