Simultaneous Elections in Indonesia 2015 (Muhlis)

the simultaneous elections of regional heads (pilkada) such as governors, district heads and mayors will be held simultaneously in the first wave on December 9, 2015, for the regional head and regional deputy head towards the end of the term of service in 2015 and the first half of 2016. The General Election Commission (KPU) is now preparing the implementation of the Regional Head Election because All factions in the House of Representatives have agreed regional elections to be held simultaenously. The writer try to figure out what is negative and positive side for this policy.

This simultaneous election models is the first time in indonesia, even in the world. Indonesia might become one of the country that can carry out regional head elections simultaneously because there will be 269 regions consisting of 9 provinces, 36 cities and 224 regencies simultaneously elect regional heads. Of course this is not an easy thing to do, because there are a lot of barriers to be faced. Some have suggested that the implementation of simultaneous elections should be postponed for some reasons. including budget issues, high intensity of conflict, and violations and dispute of elections.

However, according to Jakarta post.com, the president Jokowi belived that the implementation of the first wave of simultaneous elections can be held in schedule. The Government and the Commission determined to improve the deficiencies discovered by the BPK. Therefore, perhaps it is only natural disasters, social conflict, or war which could make simultaneous elections in Indonesia postponed from the schedule.

Furthermore, this simultaneous election is belived to get decreased financial perspective since there will be no double funds for two elections, which we all know that election funds are massive. Thus, it will be better to be spent for developing other vital sectors because simultaneous elections will include will include the campaign period, the voting day, and the inauguration of the elected regional heads.

According to the above reasons, we can sump up that there are negative and positive side recently regarding the change of election from separated to simultaneous. However, the writer believes that simultaneous elections will ensure more benefits than harm by seeing some reasons and indonesian’s financial.