KPU Plans To Continue Pilkada Stages On June 6

JAKARTA - The General Election Commission (KPU) will continue the 2020 Pilkada stages on June 6. This was said by the Commissioner of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Pramono Ubaid Tanthowi.

"The date on which we will start the follow-up Pilkada stage is June 6, 2020. This date is determined from the various simulations we have compiled, based on the Decree of Perppu Number 2 of 2020," Pramono said in a public examination of the KPU Regulation on online election stages, Saturday, May 16th.

When starting the advanced Pilkada stage later, the KPU will reactivate the work of the District Election Committee (PPK) and the Voting Committee (PPS) in 270 regions that hold the 2020 Pilkada Simultaneously.

This ad hoc election management body was actually recruited in March, but all election organizer work was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia.

"We will continue our stages on June 6, 2020 by reactivating the PPK and PPS organizing bodies, some have been inaugurated, some have not. Their working period starts from June 6 to January 31, 2021," Pramono said.

He continued, certainty about the continuation of the stages of the upcoming June 6 Pilkada if it meets two conditions. First, there must be certainty in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, making PKPU for Election in Disaster Situation.

"So, the first note is for a matter of time certainty, and the second note is related to the procedure for its implementation," said Pramono.

Furthermore, on June 13, the KPU plans to recruit a Voter Data Update Officer (PPDP) who was delayed due to COVID-19. Regarding the preparation of the voter list, the KPU has scheduled 10 June to 5 July 2020. Then, the updating of the voter list will be 6 July-4 August.

For information, President Joko Widodo issued a Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 2 of 2020 concerning the Third Amendment to Law Number 1 of 2015 concerning Stipulation of Perppu Number 1 of 2014 concerning the Election of Governors, Regents and Mayors into Law.

Perppu 2/2020 contains the determination of postponement of the 2020 simultaneous regional elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has been declared a national disaster in Indonesia. This regulation was signed by Jokowi on Monday, May 4, 2020 and officially promulgated.

"This Perppu will serve as the legal umbrella for the postponement and implementation of the 2020 Pilkada," said the Head of the Information Center of the Ministry of Home Affairs Bahtiar in Jakarta, Tuesday, May 5.

This Perppu revises Article 120, Article 122, Article 123, Article 201, and Article 202 of the Pilkada Law. In content, Jokowi decided that the 2020 Pilkada Simultaneous voting in all regions was postponed to December 2020, or 3 months from the predetermined date.

This postponement can be done because there are regulations stating that if the electoral area occurs in riots, security disturbances, natural disasters, non-natural disasters, or other disturbances, then further elections will be held.