The general elections will take place on February 14, 2024.
In the same year, people will also vote in the regional elections on November 27, 2024, in which they will choose governors, deputy governors, district heads, deputy district heads, mayors, and vice mayors across the country.
As a country with a large population, the number of voters in Indonesia is projected to reach more than 200 million people. The voting will also involve tens of thousands of officers across the country.
Hence, several challenges will arise, such as in the form of hoaxes that often trigger controversies in the digital world.
Currently, hoaxes have become a part of politics. This hoax epidemic does not only occur in Indonesia but also hits various countries during the election period.
The community is the one impacted by disinformation, when in fact, it is essential for them to receive accurate information regarding the ideas and programs offered by prospective leaders that they will vote for.
To this end, the General Elections Commission (KPU) of West Java is making several efforts to fight hoaxes.
West Java especially always has the highest number of voters as compared to other provinces, with 32.7 million people, who voted in the 2014 general elections, and 33.2 million people that voted in the 2019 general elections.
One of the efforts made by the West Java KPU is collaborating with the Jabar Saber Hoaks (West Java Eradicates Hoaxes).
Jabar Saber Hoaks is a work unit under the provincial government of West Java that aims to prevent the spread of misinformation. The work unit is cooperating with the local government to curb the spread of hoaxes that can divide the community.
Head of Jabar Saber Hoaks Alfianto Yustinova remarked that the spread of hoaxes occurs by following the situation and condition in the region.
The spread of hoaxes can target three essential elements in the general elections: voters, organizers, and law enforcers.
Hence, Jabar Saber Hoaks is present in the war against hoaxes related to the general elections.
Yustinova expressed optimism that collaboration with the West Java KPU would prevent the spread of hoaxes that can cause divisions.
Recently, Jabar Saber Hoaks made efforts to boost the community’s digital literacy. In July 2022, the unit inked cooperation with the Communication and Informatics Offices at the province, district, and city levels to replicate the work unit in districts and cities in West Java.
Replication
In a bid to improve the community’s digital literacy in protecting themselves from hoaxes, Jabar Saber Hoaks has created its replicated units in eight districts and cities so far.
Those eight districts and cities comprise Bandung City, West Bandung District, Subang District, Sumedang District, Tasikmalaya City, Garut District, Cirebon City, and Cirebon District.
This year, all districts and cities in West Java are expected to form a replicated unit of Jabar Saber Hoaks because, in future, there will be several issues that may affect peace in the community, one of which being political issues ahead of 2024.
Head of the West Java KPU Rifqi Ali Mubarok welcomed the cooperation between his commission and Jabar Saber Hoaks to jointly protect the community from hoaxes during the 2024 general elections.
West Java, as the province with the most number of voters, indeed must work harder, as the problems that it needs to address are more complex.
One of the most challenging tasks for the West Java KPU is to fight fake news and then clarify to prevent misinformation in the community. Fake news is dangerous, as it can affect the democratic process in Indonesia.
New voters are deemed to play a strategic role, as they are a generation with information literacy that can convey factual information regarding elections to their family members or peers.
The West Java KPU expects the new people voting to become smart and quality voters, who are not affected by hoaxes or vote buying.
West Java's residents have currently started to seek information on the stages that the KPU undergoes in organizing elections, including the registration of political parties.
Fighting hoaxes is not only the task of the KPU but also all parties.
Jabar Saber Hoaks pressed for the need for several actions to be taken by the community in order to be protected from hoaxes.
Firstly, people are advised to bear in mind that what they read on the internet is not always true. Second, they are suggested to not be easily provoked by the information spread on the internet.
Third, people are also recommended to seek information from reliable sources. Fourth, they are advised to read and process the information first before spreading it to others. Lastly, the community is advised not to believe in myths.
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Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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