Chair of Bali\u2019s General Elections Commission (KPU), I Dewa Agung Gede\nLidartawan, does not agree with the notion that governors should no\nlonger be elected by the people but instead appointed by the president.\nHe believes direct elections by the public should be maintained.\nIndonesia, he said, has long applied a system in which regional heads\nare chosen by the people. Therefore, if such a wacana (idea) is to be\nimplemented, the government should first ask the people for their\nconsent to see whether they agree. \u2018If a country intends to withdraw a\nright that has already been given to the people, then it should ask the\npeople first whether they agree or not. Do not let a small group\nclaiming to represent the people change everything,\u2019 Lidartawan said in\nan interview after a Coordinating Meeting on the Updating of Continuous\nVoter Data at KPU Bali, on Friday (6 March 2026). Lidartawan regards the\nsystem of direct regional head elections as a form of democracy that has\nalready been fulfilled in Indonesia. Therefore, if there is a proposal\nto change the system, it should be considered carefully to avoid\ndiminishing the people\u2019s rights. Nevertheless, as the election\nadministrator, the KPU will implement any government decision should\nthere be a change to the regional head election system. \u2018As the chair of\nthe KPU, we will carry out whatever decision the government makes. But\nin my view, there must still be special considerations to safeguard\ndemocracy,\u2019 he said. Lidartawan also argued that reform should be\ncarried out first within political parties before changing the system of\nassessment. In his view, changing the system without internal party\nreforms would merely relocate the same problems. \u2018So far, what needs to\nbe repaired is the party itself. If the system is changed while the\nparty has not been cleaned up, corruption or money politics could just\nmove there,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
Discussing election schemes, the KPU is currently examining several\noptions to make it easier for the public to exercise its voting rights\nin general elections. One option under consideration is an advance\nvoting mechanism for voters who cannot be present on polling day.\nLidartawan revealed that this scheme is planned to be applied for\nworkers who must be stationed in remote locations for extended periods,\nsuch as project workers or those involved in drilling. In addition, the\nKPU is considering voting by post. Voters could send their ballots to\nthe KPU according to their electoral district. \u2018So people who may be\ntravelling can vote early. For example, those working in remote\nareas\u2014like drilling\u2014may be away for a month,\u2019 Lidartawan explained. The\nKPU is also opening the possibility for students studying abroad to\ncontinue voting via a special mechanism, in an effort to reduce the\nnumber of golput (white votes\/abstentions). (hsa\/hsa)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bali-kpu-chair-rejects-proposal-for-governors-to-be-appointed-by-the-president-1772809210", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }