All residents are undoubtedly enthusiastic about welcoming the upcoming elections. Change to become a better nation is a dream for all Indonesian people.
Everyone, of course, wants the election to run peacefully, respect each other's differences of opinions, and respect prospective leaders that they choose.
Ensuring peaceful elections is the responsibility of not only the government but also the community, both at home and abroad. Hence, all citizens are urged to play an active role in maintaining unity during the elections.
Candidates for the 2024 presidential election
The General Election Commission (KPU) has received the registration documents of three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD, and Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
The Baswedan-Iskandar pair has the backing of the National Democratic (NasDem) Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and Ummat Party.
Meanwhile, the Pranowo-Mahfud pair has the support of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), United Development Party (PPP), Indonesian Unity Party (Perindo), and People's Conscience Party (Hanura).
Subianto and Raka have the support of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, Party of Functional Groups (Golkar), National Mandate Party (PAN), Democratic Party, Crescent Star Party (PBB), Indonesian People's Wave (Gelora) Party, Garuda Party, Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), and Just and Prosperous People's Party (PRIMA).
The KPU has determined that the campaign period for the upcoming elections will start on November 28 and end on February 10 next year, while the elections will take place on February 14, 2024.
Peaceful Election
Several state institutions are ready to secure the 2024 elections in order to create peaceful elections.
The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) anticipates that the robot program could potentially become a threat during the 2024 elections.
Bots are automated software applications that perform repetitive tasks over a network. Bots can run at any time without having to wait for them to be operated manually by humans.
Director General of Information and Public Communication of Kominfo, Usman Kansong, stated that the bot program could be beneficial for society, while on the other hand, this technology can also be misused.
Hence, Kominfo will formulate regulations on the ownership of bot platforms, so that parties owning these applications are limited in their use.
Meanwhile, the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) will deploy its computer security incident response team (CSIRT) to deal with potential cyberattacks, including those involving artificial intelligence (AI), during the 2024 General Elections.
BSSN spokesperson Ariandi Putra stated that the agency has created road maps and various frameworks into three scopes, namely, before, during, and after the elections.
According to Putra, the CSIRT team will function as a deterrent and mitigate potential cyberattacks from outsiders.
When traffic anomalies are detected in KPU's computer system, the team will collect evidence and related data and then report them to the commission for follow-up action, he explained.
The reported findings will include recommendations from the BSSN, for instance, in the form of an Information Technology Security Assessment (ITSA), so that KPU's electronic system can continue to operate well.
Putra also highlighted another step taken to protect KPU's system from data breaches and manipulation in the form of the creation of a scheme based on cybersecurity threat trends in 2023.
The scheme would include cyberattacks that are technical in nature, such as website defacement, malware attacks, and phishing, as well as those that are social, such as hoaxes and indoctrination, including AI-based attacks.
Moreover, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Admiral Yudo Margono invited the entire community to participate in maintaining and creating a safe and peaceful situation during the 2024 elections.
Prabowo remarked that the 2024 Election Peace Declaration by several elements of society was a form of agreement to maintain a safe and peaceful situation ahead of the election.
Meanwhile, Margono invited all ranks of the TNI and Polri in all regions to jointly carry out a peaceful commitment in holding the 2024 elections.
Margono emphasized the importance of the TNI and Polri maintaining neutrality in the elections as the key to the success of peaceful elections.
"It is hoped that the commitment to peaceful elections will present a cool democratic party," he stated.
He also said that the TNI and Polri must be neutral in the 2024 elections, as that is the main key for us to be able to carry out or ensure that these elections are held well.
The 2024 Election Peace Declaration is expected to be an important milestone in maintaining stability and peace during the 2024 election, so that Indonesia can continue to progress towards realizing the vision of an Indonesia Emas 2045 with full unity and integrity.
Views on Elections
Executive Director of Voxpol Center Research & Consulting Pangi Syarwi Chaniago forecasts stiff competition between candidates in the 2024 election and projects that the three candidate pairs will unlikely pass the 50-percent threshold requirement to be declared the winner of the election.
"It is still competitive, and the winner cannot be confirmed. Hence, it means there will probably be two rounds," Chaniago stated.
According to Chaniago, future electability results will be highly dynamic, and there is a possibility that votes will come and go, especially with the current issue of vice presidential candidates.
Chaniago also explained that the survey results could be different from the final results, and this was caused by variable factors that could create turbulence.
In future, Chaniago stated that there will be political fluctuations related to issues, sentiments, ability to convey vision, mission and programs, candidate debates, and ability to convey experiences and achievements, including explaining about integrity.
"These things could at least change the electoral map or political map in 2024. It was still very dynamic, very competitive, and there will probably be ‘extreme weather’ that could change the electoral map in 2024," Chaniago remarked.
Head of the Center for Political Research at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Firman Noor, opined that the vision and mission of the Subianto-Raka pair will be the same as the vision and mission of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
"There is even an emphasis on continuing the (development of the) new capital city (IKN) of Nusantara. However, on the other hand, there may be things that the pair wants to develop," Noor remarked.
Noor observed a renewed vision and mission of the Baswedan-Iskandar pair.
"When I read their vision and mission, I feel somewhat relieved, like a breath of air, an inhaler, in the midst of political fatigue," Noor stated.
According to Noor, the Baswedan-Iskandar pair was drawn to the idea of reform.
Meanwhile, the vision and mission of the Pranowo-Mahfud MD pair is somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of the visions and missions of other pairs.
"Some continue existing programs and others want to make improvements. This couple also has quite loyal supporters," Noor remarked.
Noor expressed hope that the 2024 election would truly be held fairly, abide by the law, adhere to principles, and run peacefully.
Despite the competition and tensions, the focus should be more on fighting for ideas and programs that are better for society.
The battle in the next election is expected to no longer be about inappropriate nicknames, such as "Cebong-Kampret," but rather about who will be able to make improvements for the sake of the nation.
Meanwhile, Adinda Ghina Kharida, a student of Gadjah Mada University (UGM), stated that this is the first time for her as an election voter.
"I am very enthusiastic and excited knowing that my vote would hopefully change our country to a better place. I need to learn more about the candidates, their vision and mission, and also their policies, so that I can make the best decision,” she stated.
Kharida said she has a big responsibility to make the right decision since the outcome of this election will shape not just her future but also the future of our country.
As a member of the young generation, Kharida feels a sense of happiness in knowing that there is a candidate who represents my generation.
“It gives me optimism that a younger candidate may have a better understanding of the issues and challenges that a younger generation face. However, it is true that a younger candidate means that he will not have much experience in certain areas (as) compared to some of the other candidates,” she remarked.
Kharida expressed hope that whoever the winner is, even if it ended up not being the one I chose, will eventually change the country into a better place.
In addition, student from Brawijaya University, Muhammad Arya Pangestu, expressed excitement, especially as it is the first time for him to participate in voting for the election.
Pangestu believes that despite the presence of a youngest candidate in the election, the most important aspect is that he does a fine job, especially for the nation, and can provide better solutions for problems riddling the country.
“All of the three pairs of candidates have experience in leading the society, so they have the experience to lead this country for a better future for Indonesia,” Pangestu remarked.
Pangestu is optimistic that the elected president would make Indonesia better.
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Reporter: Asri Mayang Sari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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