Significant challenges and important tasks await electoral committees aheadJakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia would face a significant and complicated challenge in preparing for the 2024 General Elections, when the president, regional leaders, the national and regional legislatures will be elected simultaneously, a Home Affairs Ministry official has said.
"Significant challenges and important tasks await electoral committees ahead," Director General of Politics and Governance at the Home Affairs Ministry, Bahtiar, said.
The budget will be an important aspect in preparing for the elections as the authorities will need to ensure sufficient funds are available for the preparations, he pointed out.
"We must admit that the budget is essential to prepare many aspects for the general elections, including the budget for IT system and election promotion," Bahtiar said.
A proper strategy and approach is necessary to control the voters, supporters, and the candidates themselves during the election, when thousands of the candidates would compete for votes, he added.
"At the general elections, we will handle thousands of candidates competing for districts, cities, provincial, and national parliament seats, as well as district head, mayor, and presidential offices, along with their supporters. Imagine how many people we will need to handle at one simultaneous moment," Bahtiar remarked.
Despite the challenges, Bahtiar expressed relief that the election committee has two and a half years to prepare for the election adding, the success of the 2020 regional elections should be imitated.
Meanwhile, member of the central General Elections Commission, I Dewa Kade Wiarse Raka Sandi, informed that the commission has made the necessary preparations for several aspects of the 2024 elections.
At present, the electoral commission needs to prepare for electoral regulations, development of electoral infrastructure and systems, election simulations, dissemination to stakeholders, and technical guidance, he pointed out.
The commission is also preparing necessary measures in case the COVID-19 pandemic persists till 2024 and requesting a backup health protocol budget, he informed.
"The backup budget for health protocols must be thoroughly considered as the election is simultaneous and nationwide. Despite this, we hope the pandemic would be over by 2024, and we would not need the budget for health protocol," Sandi remarked.
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Translator: Boyke Ledy W, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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