Antara, Jakarta – The head of Indonesia's General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), Rahmat Bagja, said voters are allowed to campaign for empty ballot boxes in regions with single candidates in the upcoming regional elections. The campaign, however, must not utilize state facilities.
"Elections supervisors must disseminate information based on the KPU Regulation on regional elections' campaigns," he said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday, September 30, 2024. "Voters can vote for the regional candidate pair or the empty ballot box."
Uncontested races, Bagja said, offer voters with two options. Thus, the "empty box" phenomenon must not be invalidated, as it's a critical reflection of the regions where it occurs.
According to Bagja, uncontested races increase the chance of money politics, necessitating closer supervision in the regions with single candidates.
He also asks for regional election supervisors to be assertive against alleged violations of election regulations. The supervisors must not hesitate in summoning alleged violators.
"Elections supervisors must follow the steps of Bung Karno (Soekarno, Indonesia's first president), embodying vivere pericosolo which means to live dangerously. We hope the election supervisors are brave enough to show their teeth," he said.
KPU allows campaign for empty ballot boxes
Previously, the General Elections Commission (KPU) also allowed voters to support and campaign for empty ballot boxes in the 2024 regional elections. KPU Commissioner, Idham Holik, said uncontested races are no different from regions with multiple regional candidates.
According to him, allowing campaigns for empty ballot boxes proves KPU's commitment to proportionality in facing Indonesian citizens' political choices.
"As election organizers, we must act proportional in the context of voter education and dissemination of information regarding regional elections where there are single candidates," he said.
KPU also ensures citizens' right to vote, including by casting their votes for empty ballot boxes. However, he urges voters to act in accordance with campaign restrictions, one of which is to halt campaigns during the silent period and the voting day.
Meanwhile, KPU Commissioner August Mellaz confirmed on September 23 that 37 regions will face "empty box" elections. The campaign period for the upcoming regional elections runs from September 25 to November 23.