The Phenomenon Of Victory Of The Blank Box Must Be Momentum To Improve The Local Democracy System

Empty Box

JAKARTA - The phenomenon of winning empty boxes in several areas in the 2024 Pilkada must be a momentum to improve the local democratic system. This was said by a political observer from Al Azhar University Indonesia, Andriadi Achmad in response to the victory of the empty box against the incumbent in the Bangka and Pangkalpinang elections.

"The phenomenon of winning empty boxes in the 2024 Pilkada shows the unique dynamics in local democracy in Indonesia. This phenomenon can be interpreted as a form of protest or public dissatisfaction with the sole candidates available," Andriadi told VOI, Saturday, November 30.

According to Andriadi, the victory of the empty box reflects that voters feel that single candidates do not represent their aspirations or needs. "This is an important signal for political parties to be more selective and inclusive in carrying candidates in the future," he said.

In addition, the Pilkada with a single candidate reflects the lack of healthy political competition, either due to the weakness of the opposition or behind-the-scenes agreement that reduces people's choice.

"This phenomenon can also be seen as criticism of the local political system, especially in terms of the recruitment of cadres and the process of selecting regional head candidates. The existing system may not open up enough space for independent figures or alternative figures to advance," he said.

The existence of empty boxes, he added, is also an important symbol in democracy because it provides an alternative for voters to reject available candidates, without having to abstain.

"If the empty box wins, the Pilkada must be repeated, which can delay the local government process and have the potential to generate additional costs. However, this also opens up opportunities for new candidates to emerge who are more representative," he said.

Therefore, Andriadi suggested political parties to introspect the recruitment process and expand community involvement in determining regional head candidates.

"Then strengthen the rules regarding single candidates, for example through regulations that ensure political competition still exists even though only one pair of candidates pass verification," he said.

Then people's political education must also be improved to strengthen their role in democracy.

"This phenomenon should be a momentum to improve the local political system so that it is more democratic and inclusive," he concluded.

As reported, the single candidate who lost ahead of the empty box was in the Bangka Pilkada. The 2024 Bangka Pilbup Quick count has been completed with 57.25 percent of the empty box results.

From data from 445 polling stations in Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands, empty boxes won in almost all polling stations by winning a total of 67,546 votes.

Meanwhile, the regent-deputy regent pair number 1 promoted by PDIP, Mulkan-Ramadian, won 50,443 votes or 42.75 percent, so that the incumbent candidate pair temporarily lost to the empty box.

The permanent voter list (DPT) in Bangka Regency is 237,930 voters, but only 118,945 people use their voting rights. Meanwhile, 3,424 invalid votes were recorded.

Then in the Pangkalpinang Pilkada. The empty box in Pilwalkot Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands, was also recorded as superior to the incumbent candidate pair number 2, Maulan Aklil alias Molen and Masagus M Hakim.

Based on the results of the quick calculation of the empty box volunteers in Pangkalpinang City, Molen-Hakim lost badly to the empty box which won 48,528 votes or 57.98 percent, while they only got 35,177 votes or 41 percent.

The number of votes came from a total of 311 polling stations throughout the Pangkalpinang area, with the advantage of the empty box recorded at least 307 places. Meanwhile, the pair promoted by PDIP only won in the Girimaya District area. The difference in the vote acquisition between Molen-Hakim and the empty box was also tens of thousands.