Short Campaign Duration Called Risk Of Disruption Of Election Logistics Availability

JAKARTA - The Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) highlighted the differences in opinion between the KPU and the government regarding the 2024 election campaign period. It is known that the KPU proposed 120 days while the government considered 90 days to be sufficient. can be seen from two aspects. First, optimizing voter outreach by candidates with an approach to programs and ideas. Second, technical feasibility in the implementation of stages and completion of legal problems that may arise at the stages of the regional election. "The second is related to the sufficient duration to organize and distribute the logistical needs for voting and counting votes," said Titi, Wednesday, January 26. Titi continued, the logistics of the election for the D day, especially the ballot papers, could only be held after the KPU established a permanent list of candidates (DCT) for the legislative and presidential elections.

While Law no. 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections in Article 276 paragraph (1) states that the election campaign is carried out since 3 (three) days after the final list of candidates for members of DPR, DPD, Provincial DPRD, and Regency/Municipal DPRD is determined for the election of members of DPR, DPD, and DPRD and Candidate Pairs for the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election until the start of the Calm Period. Then in paragraph (2) of the same Article it is regulated that the election campaign ends until the start of the Calm Period.

"So this campaign period is also related to the duration of time available to provide election logistics on Election Day. Moreover, usually after the determination of the final list of candidates, there are usually disputes that arise following it. Generally, objections from candidates who are canceled are set to enter the DCT," explained Titi. Therefore, according to him, a campaign duration that is too short will risk disrupting the availability of election logistics. Titi hopes that all parties, both the government and the election administration, can carefully consider the technical implementation of the election.

"In the current construction of the Election Law, if the campaign duration is too short, it can risk disrupting the availability of election logistics for the election day. Therefore, considering that the Election Law has not been amended to this day, all parties need to seriously consider the simulations and technical calculations carried out by the KPU. Because the KPU must have calculated based on the time frame needed to carry out each stage and election program with good and quality, "he said.

If it can be shortened without interfering with the technical implementation of the election, Titi believes that there is a need for changes to the Election Law. Especially related to the provision that states that the election campaign will be carried out 3 days after the Permanent Candidate List (DCT) has been established.

"If you want to shorten the campaign time without interfering with technical calculations, then lawmakers can regulate it through changes to the Election Law. In particular, changing the provisions that state that election campaigns will be carried out since 3 days after the Permanent Candidate List (DCT) has been established," he said.