KPU Is Sure There Will Be No New Cluster Of COVID-19 Transmission After The 2020 Pilkada

Chairman of the KPU Arief Budiman (Mery Handayani / VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU) Arief Budiman believes that there will be no new cluster of COVID-19 transmission after the simultaneous regional elections in 270 regions on December 9. With a note, the implementation of health protocols during the elections is carried out strictly.

"As for our regulations, I think it is sufficient or capable of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Because we regulate it all, keep your distance, hand sanitizers, and writing instruments must be used alone, you cannot change it," said Arief in a discussion broadcast on YouTube, Wednesday. , June 24th.

However, he considered that all parties must be involved in order to hold regional elections that are safe from the spread of COVID-19. Not only by pilkada organizers such as the KPU and Bawaslu, but also by pilkada participants and the public who will participate in the event. This is because there are several stages that allow interaction between organizers, participants, and supporters of regional head candidates.

"Well, if all comply with (health protocols), there will be no new cluster due to this election stage," he said.

He appealed to all election participants and the public who took part in the 2020 Pilkada, to carry out all health protocols according to the rules in PKPU.

"We want this regional head election to be smooth, successful, but we also need support," he said.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD claimed that many regional heads agreed that the 2020 Pilkada would continue to be held on December 9 even though the COVID-19 pandemic was still happening.

"According to our monitor, almost all of the regional heads agree. Yes, there are 1, 2 (who disagree), that's normal. But if you look at the percentage, more than 2/3 are excited to be implemented immediately," Mahfud said in his statement, Thursday, 11 June.

He realized that the implementation of the 2020 Pilkada during the pandemic was a controversy in the community. However, this is considered something normal.

Therefore, Mahfud asked all parties to think positively about the implementation of this pilkada. "If everyone thinks well, in my opinion, it will not lead to conflict in the end," he said.

Mahfud MD explained that the regional head election could not possibly be postponed due to a pandemic. Because, no one can confirm the end of this COVID-19.

"If we wait when the corona is finished, no one knows when it will be finished," he said.

The 2020 Pilkada will be held in 270 regions on December 9. This schedule changed due to COVID-19. Previously, the 2020 Pilkada was scheduled to take place on September 23.

After the election schedule was postponed, the KPU resumed the stages of holding the Pilkada simultaneously since Monday, June 15 by forming a District Election Committee (PPK) and the inauguration of the Voting Committee (PPS) in the regions that will hold regional head elections.

Then, Regency / City KPU again compiles Voters List by Regency / City KPU and submits it to PPS and Voting Organizing Group (KPPS).

Then, the KPU set a period for updating the Provisional Voters List (DPS) to the determination of the Final Voters List (DPT) from June 15 to December 6.

Furthermore, on September 4-6, the KPU will officially open the registration stage for prospective regional head candidates and the determination will be carried out on September 23.

After that, the campaign stages will start on September 26 to December 5 or 71 days. The KPU will divide the campaign period for the regional head candidates into three phases. First, limited meeting campaigns, face-to-face meetings, dialogue, dissemination of campaign materials to the public, installation of props, and / or other activities.

In the second phase, the KPU will conduct a public debate between candidate pairs as part of the campaign. The third phase of the KPU will open the campaign for regional head candidates through mass, print, and electronic media from November 22 to December 5.

Prior to voting on December 9, the campaign will end with a quiet period that will take place on December 6 to 8.