…the repeat election will be in the next year, instead in the next election cycle (in 2029).Bandung, West Java (ANTARA) - The General Elections Commission (KPU) has decided that a repeat election will take place in 2025 in regions where the "none-of-the-above" (NOTA) option gets the most votes in single-candidate races this year.
"We have included in the KPU regulation (clauses to regulate that) in the case of a none-of-the-above option victory, the repeat election will be in the next year, instead in the next election cycle (in 2029)," KPU chairperson Mochammad Afifuddin informed here on Wednesday.
Afifuddin said that the election body is deliberating the scheme and budget plan for the repeat election. The KPU will also hold simulations for the hypothesized repeat election, he added.
Single candidates contesting local elections will not be assigned any designated candidate number, he said, adding that the ballot paper will feature only the picture of the candidate pair and a blank box since the "none-of-the-above" option is also called the "empty box" in Indonesia.
The KPU chief also affirmed that as per the law, the state budget could be utilized to fund the repeat election in 2025, despite the budget for the upcoming local elections being disbursed through regional budgets.
The election commission earlier revealed that local elections in 41 regions will feature a single candidate this year, despite the registration date for candidates in those regions being extended until September 4, 2024.
The 41 regions comprise one province (West Papua), 35 districts, and five cities. North Sumatra is the province with the most single-candidate elections (six districts), followed by East Java (five districts and cities).
During the registration extension period, additional district head candidates signed up to contest in two regions -- Pohuwato district in Gorontalo and Siau Tagulandang Biaro Islands district in North Sulawesi — that initially had single candidates.
The election law states that single candidates must contest against the "none-of-the-above" option and obtain the majority votes to win an election.
Indonesia will hold simultaneous Regional Head Elections to elect governors and deputy governors, mayors and vice mayors, and district heads and deputy district heads on November 27.
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Translator: Ricky Prayoga, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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