Bawaslu: Caleg Boleh Pasang Baliho, Asal Tak Ada Ajakan Memilih dan Nomor Urut in Indonesia
Bawaslu, or the Election Supervisory Agency in Indonesia, has recently released a new regulation regarding the placement of campaign billboards or baliho by legislative candidates, or caleg, ahead of the upcoming elections. The agency allows caleg to display their billboards as long as they comply with certain requirements.
Under the new regulation, calegs are allowed to put up billboards as long as they do not contain any form of vote solicitation or call to voting and do not prominently display their election number. This move aims to maintain a fair and impartial election process while still allowing calegs to promote themselves to the public.
The decision by Bawaslu has garnered mixed reactions from the public. Some argue that the regulation is a positive step towards ensuring a clean and fair election, as it discourages calegs from resorting to vote-buying or other unethical practices. By prohibiting any form of vote solicitation on the billboards, Bawaslu is safeguarding the democratic process and preventing any undue influence on voters.
Others, however, have voiced concerns about the effectiveness of this regulation. They argue that the absence of a candidate’s election number on the billboards may cause confusion among voters, especially in areas with multiple calegs. It may also make it more challenging for voters to identify their preferred candidate on the day of the election.
Bawaslu, on the other hand, maintains that this regulation strikes a balance between allowing calegs to promote themselves and ensuring a level playing field for all candidates. By allowing billboards to be displayed without any vote solicitation or prominent display of the election number, Bawaslu hopes to encourage calegs to focus on conveying their platforms and aspirations to the public instead of relying on coercive tactics.
Additionally, Bawaslu emphasizes that this regulation does not completely ban candidates from promoting themselves. Candidates can still utilize other methods such as social media, public speeches, or traditional campaign activities to connect with voters and communicate their campaign messages effectively.
With the elections fast approaching, it remains to be seen how this new regulation will impact the campaign strategy of calegs and voters’ perception of the candidates. The primary objective of Bawaslu is to ensure a fair and transparent election process, free from any form of manipulation or undue influence.
As the election campaign intensifies, it is crucial for all stakeholders, including calegs, political parties, and voters, to adhere to the guidelines set by Bawaslu. By upholding the principles of fairness and transparency, Indonesia can take another significant step towards strengthening its democracy and ensuring the will of the people is accurately reflected in the election results.
