In December 2015, regional head and deputy regional head elections were held across various regions of Indonesia. This marked the first simultaneous regional elections, conducted in nine provinces and 260 regencies and municipalities. The second wave of simultaneous regional elections was scheduled for 2017, followed by the third wave in 2018.
The relevance of this book to the regional elections held at the end of 2015 is reflected in its first section. Readers will find an account of the weather conditions, preparations, and implementation of elections in an archipelagic region bordering the Philippines. The author describes how the decision of the Provincial Election Commission (KPU) of North Sulawesi regarding the December 9 voting day drew objections from religious leaders because the majority of residents in the Talaud Islands Regency were Christians who had already begun preparations for Christmas celebrations.
Managing the distribution of election logistics posed a unique challenge for the North Sulawesi Provincial KPU. In the Talaud Islands, election materials had to be transported by land, sea, and air. Reaching Miangas Island, which borders the Philippines, for example, required a journey of up to fifteen days from Bitung Port. When waves in the Pacific Ocean reached heights of six meters, accompanied by strong winds, ship captains would suspend voyages to Miangas. Such conditions had to be carefully considered in planning the distribution of election logistics.
The second section of this book presents field notes on the conduct of elections in the island nation of Sri Lanka. The author describes the technical aspects of voter registration, postal voting, and election-day administration. The third section examines the issue of women’s representation in Indonesian politics, while the fourth explores the anatomy of voter registration lists.
The fifth section discusses the integrity of the 2014 General Election. The author highlights various forms of electoral malpractice aimed at winning political contests through manipulation. These issues deserve careful attention in the implementation of simultaneous regional elections beginning on December 9, 2015, as well as in the 2019 General Election.
Happy reading.
Husni Kamil Manik
Chairperson of the General Elections Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia
