MPU Aceh Issues Fatwa Allowing Empty Box Voting in Regional Elections

BANDA ACEH - The Aceh Ulema Consultative Assembly (MPU) or MUI Aceh has issued a limited fatwa (ruling in Islam) regarding the law on voting for an empty box in the implementation of the 2024 simultaneous regional elections.

"Yes, so this is specifically a limited fatwa regarding voting for an empty box," said the Chairman of the Aceh MPU, Tgk Faisal Ali or who is familiarly called Lem Faisal, in Banda Aceh as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 19.

The law on voting for an empty box is stated in the Aceh MPU limited fatwa Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Law on Voting for an Empty Box in the Regional Head Election.

The three decisions of the Aceh MPU limited fatwa are, voting for a leader is a constitutional right that is in line with Islamic law for every citizen who has the right to vote.

The second point mentioned, the law on voting for a Muslim leader is mandatory.

Third, the law on voting for an empty box on the ballot paper in the regional elections is permissible.

Lem Faisal explained that the election of a leader in Islam depends on the agreed method. With the main provision that there should be no leadership vacuum.

If we look at the election system in Indonesia and Aceh in particular, then the regions that only have one candidate pair. So, choosing an empty box is allowed.

"So looking at our state system, choosing an empty box does not eliminate the leader. The leader still exists, but not by being elected, but appointed by the government," he said.

He said that religion gives people the freedom to choose an empty box. In the sense that they do not agree with the existing candidates, they end up choosing a leader who will later be appointed by the government.

"Therefore, people who take the initiative or have the will to choose an empty box, that is justified in our religion (Islam)," said Lem Faisal.

In the 2024 Pilkada, there are two regions in Aceh that are against the empty box, namely for the Regency Aceh Tamiang and North Aceh.

For the Aceh Tamiang Regent candidate, the candidate who will compete against the empty box is the Armia Fahmi-Ismail pair. They are supported by nine political parties, both national and local.

The supporters of Armia Fahmi-Ismail are the Aceh Party, the Nanggroe Aceh Party, NasDem, PAN, Demokrat, PKS, Golkar, PPP and Gerindra Parties.

Meanwhile, for North Aceh, the candidate who will compete against the empty box is the pair Ismail A Jalil (Ayah Wa) and Tarmizi (Tarmizi Panyang). Both are cadres of the Aceh Party.

This pair is supported and endorsed by 15 local and national political parties, namely the Aceh Party, PAS, SIRA, PNA, PDA, PKB, NasDem, PAN, Demokrat, PKS, Gerindra, PSI, PDI Perjuangan, PPP and Golkar Parties.