Election of regional heads with one pair of candidates or Regional Head Election of single candidate pairs must be fully understood. A lot of information is not in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations. This could be due to the lack of public knowledge. Or, the election socialization was not optimal. It could also be the result of political interests.

Some examples that can be put forward are important issues or not choosing. Although the Regional Head Election single candidate pairs have taken place in several regions during the simultaneous Regional Head Elections. Still, there are people who feel using the right to vote is a waste of work.

Another disinformation is who leads the region, if the blank column wins the Regional Head Election. Many people knowingly or unintentionally say that regional head officials are given to the regional secretary.

To answer and understand society, we will provide answers. With this short writing, it is hoped that the public will be able to speak out in the public space with a better understanding. Because the election of a single candidate pair cannot be manipulated by parties trying to spread disinformation.

Voting Rights

The right to vote must be in accordance with the technical election procedure. Although the Regional Head Election is with a single candidate pair. Permanent voters (must) exercise their voting rights. Because the Regional Head Election a single candidate pair cannot be won by a single candidate pair without going through all the election stages. Do not ever think that one candidate pair means that the Regional Head Election is not necessary.

This has been answered by the Constitutional Court (MK) that the Regional Head Election with one candidate pair must be held. The legal basis is the Constitutional Court Decision Number 100 / PUU-XII / 2015. This decision has been adopted in Article 54C of Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning the Election of Governors, Regents and Mayors.

Who is the opponent? He is an empty column. Thus, information about the obligation to vote must be conveyed clearly and clearly. Otherwise, it is likely that voter participation could have an impact on the possibility that the regional government is led by a regional head or regional head officials.

If voters choose not to participate. So, the choice that should evaluate potential leaders can change to victory without meaning. Who wins does not meet the majority of voter support. Substantially, the post-regional head election government is the government of the majority of voters, not the majority of the people who have the right to vote.

Regional Head Officers

One additional problem that the people do not understand is who the regional leaders are. In this case, the question arises when the blank column wins the Regional Head Election competition. Can this happen? One well-known example is the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Makassar.

The victory of an empty box does not automatically give the mayor's interim official mandate to the City Administration Secretary. That's not the way. In accordance with existing laws and regulations, for example the Election Law, the Regional Government Law and other regulations.

The laws and regulations give the mandate of regional head officials for the city and regency government levels to civil servants with Echelon II positions at the provincial level. It could also come from officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

So the procedure is, the Provincial Government provides a name recommendation to the Minister of Home Affairs. Then the Minister of Home Affairs determines the official who will lead the region until the next Regional Head Election. In the case of Pasaman Regency, if the blank column wins, the Regent official is not assigned to the regional secretary.

Voter Education

Therefore, to provide understanding to the voting community, election organizers and local governments must work hand in hand in educating voters. Not only them, political parties in the regions and all cadres should also educate voters.

Apart from these three actors, other subjects are the media and election observers. The two technical external components of the Regional Head Election are expected to participate actively in educating voters. For example, the media report and convey information about the legal basis for the election of a single candidate pair Regional Head.

Meanwhile, election observers are expected to be able to assist participatory supervision. This cooperation will help election observers to become parties to the dispute over the results of the single candidate pair election in the Constitutional Court.

In addition, voters can find their own information from social and electronic media. For example, reading the experiences of the Makassar Pilwakot. That way, the disinformation that has already become word of mouth can be cleared up. Keep in mind, cloudy information will mask the goodness of correct information.

Andrian Habibi

Founder Democracy and Election Foundation

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