Unlike PKB, PDIP Legislator Says E-Voting Is Not Ready To Be Implemented In The 2024 Election

Photo via Ministry of Home Affairs

JAKARTA - Member of Commission II of the DPR from the PDIP faction, Muhammad Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, does not agree with the suggestion by the Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G Plate, to use the e-voting method in the 2024 General Election.

The PDIP politician emphasized that the electronic election system or e-voting cannot be applied in the upcoming 2024 election. Because according to him, the ability of Information Technology (IT) in the electronic election system belonging to the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) is still not ready or adequate.

"E-voting does not seem to be able to be implemented in 2024," Rifqi told reporters, Friday, March 25.

The South Kalimantan legislator said that the DPR had given the KPU the opportunity to use IT in the 2020 Simultaneous Elections through the Recap Information System (Sirekap). However, he said, the results of the Sirecap were reported to be still less fast than the manual recap.

“In fact, in some places, manual recapitulation is reported first. This means we are not ready yet. We have to prepare everything, including e-voting," explained Rifqi. Previously, Deputy Chair of Commission II of the DPR RI from the PKB faction, Luqman Hakim admitted that he agreed with the suggestion of the Minister of Communication and Information Johnny G Plate to use the e-voting method in the 2024 General Election (election). .

"I am very happy if the Minister of Communication and Information seeks to propose revisions to the Election Law to President Jokowi," Luqman told reporters, Friday, March 25. Luqman said his party immediately pushed the government to implement the revision of the Election Law to the DPR. "Believe me, all factions in the DPR are ready to discuss the revision of the Election Law, if the President is willing to discuss it," he continued.

According to the Wasekjen PKB, the use of e-voting is needed to keep up with technological developments and make it easier for people to exercise their voting rights.

"Indeed, the 2024 election must adopt technological developments. So that it is easier for the people to use their voting rights purely," said Luqman.

However, Luqman continued, to realize this, inevitably, the revision of the Election Law must be carried out in order to provide the basis for the implementation of the 2024 General Election using the digital method by e-voting.

"Everyone must continue to follow the existing regulations. The current Election Law does not provide space for the implementation of an election with an e-voting mechanism," said the PKB politician.

If later it has been carried out from the regulations, added Luqman, then the digital election can be carried out in its entirety. Starting from voting to vote recapitulation and voter lists.

"So not only e-voting can be done but also e-recapitulation, e-DPT, and others. All of this can be realized if the existing Election Law is revised," concluded Luqman.