Jakarta – The Indonesian Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) has collaborated with a number of civil society organizations in an effort to maintain the integrity and transparency of the 2024 Regional Head Elections (Pilkada). This memorandum of understanding involves the Fact Check Coalition, Kalyanamitra, and the People’s Voter Education Network (JPPR) which was signed on November 1, 2024, in Jakarta.
This collaboration is expected to strengthen supervision of potential violations, including the spread of misinformation (hoaxes) and money politics practices.
The Chairman of Bawaslu RI, Rahmat Bagja, said that this collaboration is very important to overcome vulnerabilities identified at crucial stages in the Pilkada, such as the campaign, vote counting, and nomination process.
“The most vulnerable stages are the campaign, vote counting, and nomination. That’s where the focus of this cooperation is,” he said.
The Fact Check Coalition will play a key role in monitoring and addressing issues of misinformation and disinformation that may arise during the election period.
Meanwhile, JPPR will focus on monitoring from the perspective of volunteers, while Kalyanamitra will highlight the issue of child involvement and women’s participation in the campaign.
Bagja emphasized the importance of empowering women, who are expected to not only be passive voters, but also active in the democratic process.
“Are women just voters who don’t understand, or are they voters who already know their choices well and are able to reject money politics?” he said.
In addition, Bawaslu also observed a number of vulnerabilities in the Pilkada, including the practice of money politics, violence in voting, and problems at polling stations (TPS). The issue of child involvement in the campaign and violence during the campaign process is also a serious concern.
“These practices must be our concern, including the involvement of ASN (state civil apparatus) or village heads,” added Bagja.
Through this collaboration, Bawaslu seeks to create a cleaner and fairer election environment for all citizens. This collaboration will not only supervise, but also educate the public about the importance of active participation in maintaining election integrity.
By involving various parties, Bawaslu hopes to increase public awareness of the negative impacts of hoaxes and dirty practices in elections.
Through this collective effort, it is hoped that the 2024 Pilkada will be more transparent, and all elements of society, especially women and children, can participate safely and with dignity. The involvement of civil society in monitoring and reporting violations is expected to minimize risks and create a democratic and accountable Pilkada.