Bawalsu Proposes Delay, KPU Wants Simultaneous 2024 Pilkada To Be Faster Than Schedule

JAKARTA - Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) Hasyim Asy'ari wants the implementation of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Head Elections to be faster than the predetermined schedule than postponed.

This follows the suggestion of the Chairman of the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) RI Rahmat Bagja who stated that he would postpone the implementation of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Head Elections during the Coordination Meeting of Ministries and State Institutions organized by the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) with the theme "Potential and Situation of Mutakhir Election Insecurity and National Strategy for its Management".

"I don't know what he's based on. If we want it to be better sooner, it's voting in September," Hasyim said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, July 13.

He also admitted that he did not know what the basis for Bawaslu was in providing a proposal to postpone the implementation of the 2024 Simultaneous Pilkada.

Bawaslu previously proposed the Government and election organizers, such as the General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia to discuss the option of delaying the implementation of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections.

According to Bawaslu Chairman Rahmat Bagja, as quoted from the official Bawaslu website, the option to postpone the 2024 Simultaneous Pilkada should be discussed because its implementation coincides with the 2024 General Election and there is also the potential for disruption of security and order.

"We are actually worried that the 2024 Election (Pilkada) will be due to the vote in November 2024, in which October 2024 will be the new presidential inauguration, of course with ministers and officials who may change. Therefore, we propose that we should discuss the option of postponement of elections (pilkada) because this is the first time simultaneously," said Bagja.

He gave an example if there is a security disturbance in an area, the police have the potential to have difficulty getting assistance from troops in other areas because other areas are also holding Pilkada.

"Previously, for example, the regional elections in Makassar had security disturbances, there could be a deployment from the surrounding Polres or the police from other provinces. If the 2024 Pilkada, it would be difficult because each region is ready to hold a similar election," he said.

As stipulated in KPU Regulation (PKPU) Number 3 of 2022 concerning Stages and Schedules for the 2024 General Election, the voting day for the 2024 Pilkada falls on November 27, 2024.