By: Zaki Walad )*
The implementation of revotes (PSU) in various regions in Indonesia has shown that the face of democracy in this country has indeed become increasingly mature.
The election process, which took place in a very safe, orderly, and transparent manner, was a very clear reflection of the seriousness of state administrators, security forces, and the public in maintaining the quality of democracy.
The presence of the PSU is not merely a corrective formality, but also serves as proof that the democratic system in Indonesia has a corrective mechanism that is already running effectively to further ensure that the people’s sovereignty is truly respected.
The experience of the post-2024 General Election and the 2024–2025 Regional Elections (Pilkada) has demonstrated that democracy in Indonesia is no longer merely a ceremonial affair.
Every error that has been proven through the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) has been answered with very firm steps through the implementation of the Revote.
This swift action demonstrated that state institutions have consistently upheld the principle of transparency, consistently correcting any irregularities and maintaining the legitimacy of the people’s voice.
The Deputy for Foreign Policy Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mohammad K. Koba, confirmed his team’s monitoring of several polling stations in Boven Digoel Regency. He stated that voter queues there were orderly, with no indication of crowds congregating in favor of any particular group.
He believes this conducive situation is a strong indicator that people in various regions across Indonesia, including Papua, are becoming more mature in exercising their right to vote. He also considered the high level of participation in the revote a concrete example of democratic maturity and a strengthening of the legitimacy of the election results.
Besides Boven Digoel, North Barito Regency in Central Kalimantan has also come under scrutiny. Central Kalimantan Governor H. Agustiar Sabran has conducted direct monitoring of several polling stations there, including correctional facilities.
He expressed his deep appreciation to the organizers for their continued efforts to ensure the entire vote counting process ran smoothly, safely, and transparently.
For the Governor, the orderly vote counting process was clear evidence of the professionalism of the organizers and the synergy of all security personnel who had humanely overseen the PSU process.
A similar view was expressed by the Deputy Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus. He emphasized that the readiness of the central government, regional governments, the General Elections Commission (KPU), the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), security forces, and various other relevant parties to oversee the re-election in various regions was optimal.
Lodewijk assessed that the implementation of the revote, based on the principles of directness, generality, freedom, confidentiality, honesty, and fairness, demonstrated an increasingly solid democratic quality. He also emphasized that the commitment of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to maintain neutrality, professionalism, and integrity in the field played a crucial role in creating a safe, peaceful, and conducive atmosphere throughout the voting process.
The success of the revote in various regions demonstrates several important factors that strengthen the quality of democracy. First, intensive oversight by the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), independent observers, and political party witnesses eliminates the potential for violations.
Second, the KPU’s transparency of information allows the public to clearly access the PSU schedule and locations, thus enhancing transparency. Third, the presence of security forces acting firmly and humanely ensures that the voting process is free from intimidation.
A quality democracy is measured not only by the smooth running of elections, but also by its ability to provide room for corrections to errors. The revote is a concrete manifestation of that correction.
Its existence serves as a reminder that Indonesian democracy doesn’t stop at claims, but rather operates through a system that guarantees electoral fairness. Transparency in the re-election process confirms that the people’s voice remains a key pillar of democracy.
Of course, the implementation of the revote also carries an important message that challenges remain in organizing elections. The hope for the future lies in early prevention efforts to prevent violations from occurring, thus preventing a repeat of the revote. However, if violations are proven, the revote mechanism ensures that the remedial process can proceed transparently and in accordance with the law.
When the re-election process proceeds safely and transparently, public trust in the democratic system increases. The people witness that the state is fully present, upholding the integrity of the vote and protecting the constitutional rights of every citizen.
The successful implementation of the PSU in various regions confirms Indonesia’s position as a democratic country that consistently upholds the principles of justice, openness, and respect for the sovereignty of the people.
The quality of democracy is reflected not only in the celebration of political parties, but also in the consistency in upholding transparency, justice, and accountability. The safe and transparent revote is evidence that democracy in Indonesia continues to move toward greater maturity, resilience, and quality.
From Papua to Kalimantan, the experience of the revote demonstrates the collective commitment of all elements of the nation to maintaining a healthy democracy. This is a significant achievement worthy of appreciation and serves as a foundation for ensuring that every future election will be better, fairer, and more dignified. (*)
)* The author is a democracy activist
