Transparency has become a mainstream principle in Indonesia. Through Law No. 14 of 2008, the institutionalization of public information openness has been carried out in a structured, systematic, and wide-reaching manner across public institutions. This principle has been recognized as an important pillar supporting the integrity of both electoral processes and outcomes, particularly since the 2014 Legislative and Presidential Elections.
The public was, in effect, presented with an electoral process conducted inside a glass box. Every stage could be observed, monitored, and scrutinized directly. Moreover, citizens were able to record and reuse electoral data and information, repackaging them in more creative and engaging forms. The experience demonstrated that making electoral data and information openly accessible further strengthened confidence in election outcomes.
Exposing the electoral process, together with the data and information it contains, has also helped minimize opportunities for conflict. The 2014 Legislative and Presidential Elections demonstrated that concerns about the elections dividing Indonesian society and generating destructive conflict ultimately proved unfounded. No incidents of physical violence causing damage to public or private facilities occurred during the electoral process or in the period leading up to the inauguration of the elected president.
Although public support for the two major political camps became highly visible and often intense, much of this contestation remained confined to the digital sphere and appeared to be characterized more by noise than by substantive voice. In many respects, potential conflicts subsided before they could fully emerge.
