KPU Limits Social Media Accounts For Pilkada Campaigns, 30 Provinces-20 Regencies / Cities

Illustrations / KPUs (VOI)

JAKARTA - The General Election Commission (KPU) limits the number of official social media accounts for the 2020 Pilkada participant campaigns. This rule is contained in the revision of KPU Regulation Number 4 of 2017 which is in the process of being enacted.

In Article 67 of the revised PKPU Campaign, participants in this case political parties, coalitions of political parties, pairs of candidates, and campaign teams may create official accounts on social media, at most 30 in provincial elections and 20 in regencies / cities.

"The most social media accounts for the election for governor and deputy governor are 30 official accounts. As for the level of election for regents and deputy regents, mayors and deputy mayors there are 20 official accounts for all applications," said KPU I Commissioner Dewa Raka Sandi in webinar discussion, Monday, 21 September.

Dewa said the list of official campaign accounts must be reported to the regional KPU according to their level, both regencies / cities and provinces no later than 1 day before the campaign period begins.

In addition, accounts are also submitted to the Election Supervisory Agency, the police, and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kemkominfo).

"This is a means of control, so that the authorities can also supervise and prevent potential violations that occur," said Dewa.

The period of time for 2020 Pilkada participants to campaign on social media is 14 days before the start of the calm period.

Apart from social media, the KPU also allows candidate pairs to advertise on online media. One banner can be posted for each online media verified by the Press Council.

"Each one banner for online media. Most campaign advertisements in 5 verified online media. Ikla is conducted for 14 days," said Dewa.

The KPU facilitates the charging of advertising costs in print and electronic media (television and radio). Meanwhile, advertisements on social media and online are financed by the pair of candidates.

"But we also set the restrictions, so that there will be no difficulties in implementation, including in later control, lest the campaign be unlimited," he said.

It is known, the 2020 Simultaneous Continuous Pilkada campaign period was carried out for 71 days with a number of stages. From 26 September to 5 December 2020, candidates for regional head are welcome to conduct limited meeting campaigns, face-to-face campaigns, disseminate campaign materials, install campaign tools, including campaign activities on social media and online.

Then, from September 26 to December 5, regional head candidates are also allowed to participate in public debates between candidate pairs.

From November 22 to December 5, candidates for regional head may post campaign advertisements through mass, print and electronic media.