UI Professor: Proposal to Limit Cash Usage Could Reduce High Election Costs

JAKARTA - Professor of Political Science at the University of Indonesia (UI), Lili Romli, believes that the proposal to limit cash usage in elections could suppress money politics practices while reducing the high costs of elections.

She stated that the high cost of elections so far is inseparable from the rampant practice of money politics carried out by candidates.

“Besides suppressing money politics, it is also to reduce the high cost of elections. The complaint about expensive elections is actually due to the practice of money politics,” said Lili when contacted by Kompas.com on Sunday (26/4/2026).

“Each candidate can go all out in money politics, so hundreds of millions or even billions of rupiah come out of the candidates’ pockets,” she explained.

Lili said that such restrictions are important because money politics practices tend to increase from one election to the next.

“By limiting cash usage, it is hoped that it can prevent or reduce money politics,” said Lili.

On the other hand, Lili assured that limiting cash usage would not hinder campaign activities.

She believes that campaign methods can adapt to technological developments, such as through social media, podcasts, or dialogue programmes on television, as well as reducing open campaigns in the form of public gatherings.

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said that such regulations are necessary because cash usage during election stages has so far remained dominant.

“This condition is seen to increase the opportunities for vote buying, or money politics, which has so far been a classic problem in electoral democracy,” said Budi to journalists in Jakarta on Saturday.

“Four groups of sources, namely representatives of parliamentary and non-parliamentary political parties, election organisers, experts or electoral observers, and academics,” he said.