Despite The COVID-19 Pandemic, Mahfud MD Claims Voter Participation Levels In The 2020 Pilkada Increased

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD claims the level of voter participation in the 2020 Pilkada Simultaneously has increased.

Mahfud MD said that compared to the 2015 Pilkada, the number of voters had increased by 75.83 percent.

"The level of participation, thank God is increasing. Previously our participation in the 2015 simultaneous regional elections was 69.02 percent, now it has increased to 75.82 percent, much higher than the existing elections in America," said Mahfud MD in a written statement received by VOI, Monday , December 14th.

This was conveyed by him during the meeting between the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs with the Regional Head, Forkolimda and Pilkada Organizers in Yogyakarta. Mahfud did not deny that the 2020 simultaneous regional elections which were held at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic were still relatively high in Indonesia, which often raised concerns.

In fact, many have said that the regional elections held in 270 districts / cities will become a new cluster for the spread of COVID-19.

"But based on that, we set the health protocol well and the level of participation, Alhamdulillah, was high. Almost a 7 percent increase," he said.

This made him grateful. Moreover, all parties participating in the 2020 Pilkada Simultaneously can overcome concerns about the emergence of the covid cluster during the Pilkada implementation.

"We have accommodated all suggestions, we teach health protocols and thank God, there has been no case that the pilkada crowd has become a new cluster. Is Covid still there? Still," he said.

Meanwhile, in the same event, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian emphasized that the success of the Pilkada during this year's pandemic could be an example for other countries.

"In 2020 there are 90 countries that have conducted elections. This Pilkada is the second largest election in the world after the United States and it is going quite well. The firmness of the TNI, Polri, Satpol PP security apparatus who have finished voting in order to prevent crowds, also makes it easier for colleagues. - colleagues at the TPS, "said Tito.

Also attending the event were Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Chairman of the Indonesian KPU Arif Budiman, Chairman of Bawaslu RI Abhan, Sultan HB. X, who is also the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, and attended virtually the regional heads who held the 2020 Pilkada Simultaneously.