2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections Manifestation of President Jokowi’s Success in Building Participatory Democracy
By: Andi Ramli
The 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections are an important momentum that shows President Joko Widodo’s success in building participatory democracy in Indonesia. This regional political contest reflects the progress of democracy under the leadership of the seventh President of the Republic of Indonesia.
In this regional election, the community is expected to be actively involved to measure the extent to which the democratic process is running well. The success of holding this regional level democratic party does not only depend on the smooth running of the election mechanism but also on the extent to which the community actively participates in the process.
President Jokowi, who has been in power since 2014 and is a national leader born in Surakarta City, emphasized the importance of active participation in the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections. He invited all levels of society, including Islamic boarding school students, to be actively involved in the election process.
According to him, community involvement in elections does not only function as a voting right but also as part of the nation’s progress. The Head of State believes that every vote and participation has a significant contribution to the development of democracy and the nation’s progress.
This invitation is a concrete step to ensure that various elements of society, including those who may have previously been less involved, have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
President Jokowi’s approach to the implementation of the election shows a commitment to strengthening community participation. By encouraging the involvement of Islamic boarding school students and the wider community, he underlined that a strong democracy requires active contributions from all parties.
This step is not only aimed at increasing voter turnout but also to educate the public about the importance of their involvement in every stage of the election. Through active participation, the public can better understand the political process and feel more responsible for the election results.
In this context, Ratna Dewi Pettalolo, a member of the Election Organizer Honorary Council (DKPP), emphasized the importance of participation as part of a healthy democracy.
Ratna Dewi said that high voter participation is the main indicator of the success of the election. According to her, democracy and participation must go hand in hand so that the election can run successfully and effectively.
The high level of participation reflects that the community is not only present formally, but also substantially in every stage of the election. High participation allows the democratic process to run more transparently and accountably, and ensures that the political decisions taken truly represent the voice of the people. Thus, active participation is a benchmark for the success of the election implementation and is important for creating a well-functioning democracy.
Efforts to raise public awareness and understanding of the electoral process are also important. Effective voter education and extensive information campaigns can help ensure that people understand their rights and how to participate in the democratic process. This is essential to avoid apathy and ensure that elections accurately reflect the will of the people.
KPU Commissioner Idham Holik added that improving the quality of democracy in Indonesia must be a top priority, especially ahead of the 2024 General Election and Regional Elections. Holik emphasized the importance of maintaining the level of public participation as one way to improve the quality of democracy.
The quality of democracy is not only measured by the presence of voters on election day, but also by the involvement of the community in every stage of the election. Holik explained that effective participation involves the community not only on election day, but also during the campaign process, voter data verification, and other stages. Involvement in every stage of the election ensures that the election takes place democratically and the results reflect the will of the people.
In addition, there needs to be strict supervision and transparency in the election process. Good supervision can prevent fraud and ensure that the election results truly reflect the people’s choice. Good election quality contributes to the legitimacy of election results and strengthens public trust in the democratic system.
The success of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections is one of the main indicators that shows how democratic progress has been realized under President Jokowi’s leadership. The national leader born in 1961 has shown his commitment to strengthening the democratic system in Indonesia through various policies and programs.
By encouraging active participation from all levels of society, President Jokowi has created space for the public to be more involved in the political process. This shows that participatory democracy is an integral part of his government’s agenda.
However, the challenge ahead is to ensure that this participation is not only symbolic but also substantive. The community must be encouraged to engage continuously in all stages of the election.
Awareness about the importance of active involvement must be raised so that people not only come to the polling station on the day but also get involved in the election process as a whole.
The 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections are a test for all parties, from organizers to voters. Success in its implementation will reflect how far efforts have been made in building a participatory democracy.
In this context, the support and active involvement of all elements of society becomes very important. It is an opportunity to see how society can contribute to the democratic process and how all can strengthen the foundation of democracy in Indonesia.
President Jokowi, with all his efforts in encouraging active participation, has demonstrated visionary leadership in building democracy in Indonesia. The 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections are not just regional head elections, but also a manifestation of the progress of democracy that has been built during his two terms of leadership. This is real evidence of the extent to which society can participate in the democratic process and how it can strengthen the foundation of democracy in the country.
National Political Analyst – Indonesian Democracy Study Forum
