Save People in Regional Elections

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

A crowd of supporters bearing campaign flags surround the South Kalimantan governor and deputy governor candidates, Denny Indrayana and Difriadi Darjat (center, wearing garlands), as the group heads en masse for the pair to register at the South Kalimantan General Elections Commission (KPU) on Saturday (5/9/2020) in Banjarmasin. Using the moniker “H2D” for Haji Denny-Difriadi, the candidates have the backing of three political parties in the 2020 regional elections

The simultaneous regional elections have created a new cluster of Covid-19 transmission. Without strict enforcement of sanctions against violators, people\'s lives will be at stake.

The concerns that the simultaneous regional elections (Pilkada) will become a new cluster of Covid-19 have become reality. As of Saturday (12/9/2020), the General Elections Commission (KPU) recorded that at least 63 out of a total 1,470 potential election candidates had tested positive for Covid-19.

The detection of 96 officials of the Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) in Boyolali regency, Central Java, who were infected with Covid-19 while attending to their tasks of checking, researching and updating voter data in 18 districts has further strengthened speculation that the regional elections has fostered the birth of new clusters of Covid-19 transmission.

Also read: Regional Elections, Pandemic and Threats of Recession

Spikes in local Covid-19 cases have also been detected in several regions that are due to hold the elections. A Covid-19 surge occurred, for example, in three regions of Lampung province that will hold their elections for regional head: Bandar Lampung, North Lampung and Central Lampung.

President Joko Widodo said last week in a meeting with chief editors of leading media at Bogor Palace that he had told the Home Minister, the KPU and the Elections Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) to impose strict sanctions against violators of the health protocol, especially during the upcoming campaign period that kicks off from 26 Sept. 2020.

KOMPAS/MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Masks and physical distancing are in short supply as supporters raise their arms to cheer M. Sulhan Fauzi and Zaini Makarim Supriyatno after the candidate pair registered at the Purbalingga General Elections Commission (KPU) on Sunday (6/9/2020) in Rembang, Purbalingga Central Java. The Oji-Zaini pair are running for Purbalingga regent and deputy regent in the 2020 simultaneous regional elections.

"If [the campaign period] is not monitored properly, it could become a new cluster. [If it is] Not taken care of, it could become a new cluster. The Home Minister has also issued 57 stern warnings to prospective candidates. The Home Minister has especially reprimanded incumbents. This is important before [the Pilkada] becomes a new and growing cluster,” the President said in response to a question from one chief editor.

The Home Ministry has warned 53 incumbents who violated the health protocol during the candidate registration process.

This means that the strict imposition of sanctions depends on the execution in the field by officials from the Home Ministry, the KPU, the Bawaslu, local administrations or security forces. The Home Ministry has warned 53 incumbents who violated the health protocol during the candidate registration process. Meanwhile, the Bawaslu has also issued warning to non-incumbent candidates.

Also read: Covid-19 Keeps Pace with 2020 Regional Elections

The question is whether a reprimand is strong enough to deter the candidates from committing similar offenses. Are the sanctions equal to the risk of transmitting an infection that endangers the lives of many people? Apart from administrative sanctions, criminal sanctions also need to be made against any violators among the candidates. Articles 216 and 218 of the Criminal Code must be imposed. Swift action by the authorities is absolutely necessary to disperse potential mass gatherings, which are a direct violation of the health protocol.

During the 2019 general elections, the death rate among poll workers and volunteers was very high due to fatigue. Of course, we do not want this to repeat during the 2020 simultaneous regional elections, particularly deaths from Covid-19. The grassroots will eventually end up becoming the victims. They seem to be sought only for their votes. Their health and lives are being neglected.