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American Journal of Economic and

Management Business

p-ISSN: XXXX-XXXX

e-ISSN: 2835-5199

Vol. 2 No. 7 July 2023

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION

COMMISSION (KPU) ORGANIZATION OF BENGKULU

PROVINCE IN THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION AND

DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF BENGKULU

Eko Dafella, Achmad Aminudin, Nour Farozi Agus

Universitas Bengkulu, Indonesia

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Abstract

Based on the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia Year 1945 states that the State of

Indonesia is a unitary state in the form of a republic. Regional Head Elections or also

called Elections for Governors and Vice Governors, Regents and Vice Regents, as well

as Mayors and Deputy Mayors hereinafter referred to as Elections are the exercise of

people's sovereignty in provincial and regency/city areas to elect Governors and Vice

Governors, Regents and Vice Regents, as well as Mayors and Vice Mayors directly and

democratically. The type of research used is qualitative descriptive with descriptive

elaboration, the effectiveness of the General Election Commission (KPU) Organization

of Bengkulu Province in the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy Governor Elections

during the Covid-19 pandemic has been quite effective. KPU Bengkulu Province can

carry out tasks that are used as research aspects in this study. To find out the effectiveness

can be seen from the following data: Aspects of Tasks or Functions. The KPU of

Bengkulu Province can carry out the duties and functions that have been mandated to it

effectively even in the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. This can be seen from the

tasks and functions given can be carried out entirely.

Keywords: kpu; organization; Bengkulu,

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0

International

INTRODUCTION

Based on the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia Year 1945 states that the

State of Indonesia is a unitary state in the form of a republic (Article 1 paragraph 1),

sovereignty is in the hands of the people and is exercised according to the Constitution

(Article 1 paragraph 2). According to Asshiddiqie, (2013) Indonesia is a unitary state that

upholds the principle of people's sovereignty, where the people are considered as the

owners and holders of the highest power in a country. The implementation of people's

sovereignty is manifested in the form of General Elections (Pemilu) and Regional Head

Elections (Berawi, 2014).

Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections

(Article 1 paragraph 1) says that General Elections hereinafter referred to as Elections are

Eko Dafella, Achmad Aminudin, Nour Farozi Agus

239

a means of people's sovereignty to elect members of the People's Representative Council,

members of the Regional Representative Council, President and Vice President, and to

elect members of the Regional People's Representative Council, which is carried out

directly, publicly, freely, secretly, honestly and fairly in the Unitary State of the Republic

of Indonesia based on Pancasila and Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia Year 1945.

Regional Head Elections or also called Elections for Governors and Vice

Governors, Regents and Vice Regents, as well as Mayors and Deputy Mayors hereinafter

referred to as Elections are the exercise of people's sovereignty in provincial and

regency/city areas to elect Governors and Vice Governors, Regents and Vice Regents, as

well as Mayors and Vice Mayors directly and democratically.

In the Preamble to the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia in 1945 Article

22E paragraph 5 says that General Elections are held by a General Election Commission

that is national, permanent and independent (Sule et al., 2017). The General Elections

Commission (KPU) is a public organization entrusted to carry out its duties as an

organizer of Elections and Regional Head Elections. In carrying out its duties, the General

Elections Commission is assisted by organizers at the lower levels, namely the Provincial

General Election Commission and the District/City General Election Commission.

Davidson, (2013) in 2020, Regional Head Elections were held simultaneously

throughout Indonesia. Since the implementation of the Regional Head Election (Pilkada)

in Indonesia which was held directly starting in 2005, this 2020 regional election is the

fourth wave of regional elections. The implementation of the 2020 regional elections took

place under different conditions from the previous regional elections due to the outbreak

of the Corona Virus Disease (Covid)-19 pandemic that swept the entire world. The 2020

simultaneous elections were held in 270 regions in Indonesia, covering 9 Provinces, 224

Regencies and 37 Cities.

Based on the General Election Commission Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia

Number 15 of 2019 concerning the Stages, Programs and Schedules for the Election of

Governor and Vice Governor, Regent and Vice Regent, and/or Mayor and Deputy Mayor

in 2020, it is determined that the day of voting and counting of votes at polling stations

for the 2020 Regional Elections is on September 23, 2020.

Based on news released by detik,com on April 26, 2020, Indonesia first confirmed

a Covid-19 case on Monday, March 2, 2020. At that time, President Joko Widodo

announced that two Indonesians had tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. Since then,

the surge in cases of transmission of the Covid-19 virus has increased in Indonesia. In

order to overcome the spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) as a national

disaster. The government needs to take extraordinary measures, both at the central and

regional levels, to try to control the transmission of the Covid-19 virus so that it does not

spread throughout the country. One of the Government's efforts in terms of regulation is

to issue a regulation, namely Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number

11 of 2020 concerning the Determination of Public Health Emergencies Corona Virus

Disease 2019 (Covid-19) which stipulates Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) as a

type of disease that causes public health emergencies and must be countermeasures in

accordance with laws and regulations (Çetin & Oguz, 2007).

The spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19), which has been designated

as a national disaster, also has an impact on the implementation of simultaneous Regional

Head Elections throughout Indonesia which will be held in 2020. The surge in Covid-19

cases that continued to occur in the country finally made a number of parties speak out

and proposed that the implementation of the 2020 regional elections be postponed. Based

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Vol. 2 No. 7 July 2023

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on General Election Commission Regulation Number 16 of 2019, it is determined that

the voting and counting of votes at polling stations will be carried out on September 23,

2020. Along with the increase in Covid-19 cases that continue to increase and consider

proposals from the community, the General Elections Commission together with the

Government and the House of Representatives held a meeting and produced an agreement

to postpone the implementation of the 2020 Regional Head elections. Then on May 4,

2020 the Government issued Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perpu) Number 2

of 2020 which confirmed that the postponed voting was held in December 2020 (Article

201A paragraph 2).

As a follow-up to Perpu Number 2 of 2020, on June 12, 2020, General Election

Commission Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 5 of 2020 concerning the

Third Amendment to General Election Commission Regulation Number 15 of 2019

concerning Stages, Programs, Schedules for Holding Elections for Governor and Vice

Governor, Regent and Vice Regent, and/or Mayor and Vice Mayor in 2020, which

stipulates that the simultaneous voting which was postponed due to the non-natural

disaster of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19), will be held on December 9, 2020

(Article 8C). 2020 is a year of democracy for the people of Bengkulu Province, because

in that year the people of Bengkulu Province will exercise their political rights to elect

leaders (Governor and Deputy Governor) who will lead them for the next 5 (five) years.

The implementation of regional elections in Bengkulu Province, which was held in the

midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, also caused pros and cons in the community. Even

though the implementation of regional elections has been postponed, it does not mean

that there are no challenges faced, especially until December the Covid-19 pandemic has

not shown signs of decreasing.

The General Election Commission of Bengkulu Province as the organizer of

elections at the Bengkulu Province level continues to strive to carry out its duties to build

public confidence that the regional elections, which are still held in the midst of a

pandemic, do not cause major problems for public safety (Amrizal et al., 2018). These

efforts are carried out, among others, in the form of socialization both face-to-face and

online, then voter education, the existence of rules that make interaction between humans

must be limited, social restrictions and social distancing or maintaining distance, this is

certainly contrary to the spirit of the regional head election stage which usually often

interacts with the wider community and gathers large numbers of people, Whether it's in

the socialization stage, the implementation of technical guidance or campaigns. This new

habit certainly makes many people worry about the quality and legitimacy of local

elections, namely the possibility of quiet campaigns, socialization that is not on target,

low public participation.

According to Towoju, (2021) political participation (society) is the core of

democracy. Whether or not a political system is democratic is determined by the high and

low level of political participation of its citizens. The minimum standard of democracy is

usually free regular elections to guarantee a rotation of state control holders without the

removal of any political group. The active participation of citizens in the elections and in

the policy-making process, the implementation of human rights is ensured that gives

freedom for citizens to organize themselves in free civil organizations or in political

parties, and express opinions in public forums and mass media.

The things mentioned above make the author interested in knowing whether the

General Election Commission (KPU) of Bengkulu Province in the implementation of the

2020 Regional Head Election can carry out its duties and functions effectively (Tanaamah

Eko Dafella, Achmad Aminudin, Nour Farozi Agus

241

et al., 2019). Therefore, the author gives a title about this study, namely "The

Organizational Effectiveness of the General Election Commission (KPU) of Bengkulu

Province in the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy Governor Elections during the

Covid-19 Pandemic. In accordance with the formulation of the problem above, the

purpose to be achieved by the author in conducting this research is to determine the

organizational effectiveness of the General Election Commission (KPU) of Bengkulu

Province in the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy Governor Elections during the

Covid-19 pandemic.

RESEARCH METHODS

The type of research used is qualitative descriptive with descriptive elaboration,

which is a study that aims to obtain an overview of the organizational effectiveness of the

General Election Commission (KPU) of Bengkulu Province during the pandemic, the

study conducted was during the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy Governor

Elections. Researchers will interact directly with informants in the field to obtain accurate

data. The place / location of this research was carried out at the office of the General

Election Commission (KPU) Secretariat of Bengkulu Province, which is located at Jalan

Kapuas Raya Number 82, West Lingkar Village, Gading Cempaka District, Bengkulu

City, Bengkulu Province.

Research focus is useful for restrictions on the object of research raised, sharpening

and providing limits on the direction of a study. With this limitation, researchers are more

focused on understanding the problem that is the goal. To limit the scope so that research

does not widen, a research focus is needed.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Gibson & Zellmer-Bruhn, (2001) argues that effectiveness is the achievement of

goals and objectives that have been agreed upon to achieve the goals of joint efforts.

Based on the results of research that has been conducted, the effectiveness of the General

Election Commission (KPU) Organization of Bengkulu Province in the 2020 Bengkulu

Governor and Deputy Governor Elections during the Covid-19 pandemic is quite

effective.

Based on the research aspect of the Organizational Effectiveness of the General

Election Commission (KPU) of Bengkulu Province in the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and

Deputy Governor Elections during the Covid-19 Pandemic which includes aspects of the

duties or functions of the Bengkulu Provincial KPU, the plans or programs of the

Bengkulu Provincial KPU, the provisions or regulations of the Bengkulu Provincial KPU

and the ideal objectives or conditions of the Bengkulu Provincial KPU have been running

effectively.

Measurement of the organizational effectiveness of the General Election

Commission (KPU) of Bengkulu Province in the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy

Governor Elections during the Covid-19 pandemic can be seen from the aspects of tasks

or functions, plans or programs, provisions or regulations and ideal goals or conditions.

Aspects of Tasks or Functions

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Vol. 2 No. 7 July 2023

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The effectiveness of the General Election Commission (KPU) organization of

Bengkulu Province in the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy Governor Elections

during the Covid-19 pandemic is seen from the tasks and functions that have been running

quite effectively. This can be seen from the tasks that have been given can be carried out

entirely (Poudel et al., 2017). The KPU of Bengkulu Province was able to complete all

the tasks of updating the voter list. Starting from the establishment of the Provisional

Voter List to the establishment of the Permanent Voter List (Piccolino, 2015).

Then, even during the Covid-19 pandemic, the KPU of Bengkulu Province was able

to carry out the task of determining candidates for the Governor and Deputy Governor of

Bengkulu in 2020 according to the stage schedule (Ramdani, 2020).

Furthermore, the KPU of Bengkulu Province is still able to carry out the task of

carrying out the socialization of the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy Governor

Elections in the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic in accordance with the

predetermined schedule and still pay attention to health protocols.

In carrying out the determination of the recapitulation of the results of the vote count

for the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy Governor Elections, the Bengkulu

Provincial KPU can also carry out its duties properly because it can be carried out

according to schedule, in accordance with the provisions and also issued a Bengkulu

Provincial KPU Decree regarding the results of the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy

Governor Elections. KPU Bengkulu Province is able to carry out all its duties in the 2020

Bengkulu Governor and Deputy Governor Elections. The task is carried out according to

the schedule of stages that have been set (Giatman et al., 2020).

Aspects of the plan or programme

All plans that have been determined in the stages of the 2020 Bengkulu Governor

and Deputy Governor Elections can be implemented according to schedule. The ability

to carry out the stages in accordance with the plan, shows that the KPU of Bengkulu

Province is able to carry out the plan or program effectively (Grifoni et al., 2013).

Aspects of Terms or Regulations

Decision making in the implementation of the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy

Governor Elections is based on provisions governing decision-making procedures,

namely KPU Regulations related to the stages to be determined. This shows that the KPU

of Bengkulu Province can implement provisions or regulations effectively where existing

regulations are used as a basis for decision making (Ramadhani et al., 2022).

Aspects of Goals or Ideal Conditions.

The effectiveness of the General Election Commission (KPU) organization of

Bengkulu Province in the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy Governor Elections

during the Covid-19 pandemic is seen from the aspect of goals that have been running

effectively. This can be seen from the election of Regional Heads (Governor and Deputy

Governor of Bengkulu in 2020) on time and can be accounted for before the law due to a

lawsuit to the Constitutional Court.

CONCLUSION

Eko Dafella, Achmad Aminudin, Nour Farozi Agus

243

From the results of the study, in general, the effectiveness of the General Election

Commission (KPU) Organization of Bengkulu Province in the 2020 Bengkulu Governor

and Deputy Governor Elections during the Covid-19 pandemic has been quite effective.

KPU Bengkulu Province can carry out tasks that are used as research aspects in this study.

To find out the effectiveness can be seen from the following data: Aspects of Tasks or

Functions. The KPU of Bengkulu Province can carry out the duties and functions that

have been mandated to it effectively even in the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This can be seen from the tasks and functions given can be carried out entirely.

Aspects of the Plan or Program. The KPU of Bengkulu Province can carry out the

plans and programs that have been set quite effectively. This can be seen from the

compatibility between the plan that has been set and its implementation. Even in the

conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the KPU of Bengkulu Province is able to carry out

all programs that have been stated in PKPU Number 5 of 2020 concerning Stages,

Programs and Schedules for the Stages of the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy

Governor Elections.

Aspects of Terms or Regulations. Overall, the KPU of Bengkulu Province complies

with the existing rules and regulations in decision making. This can be seen from the

decisions taken based on the applicable KPU Regulations. So it can be said that the KPU

of Bengkulu Province can carry out this aspect of provisions effectively.

Aspects of Goals or Ideal Conditions. In carrying out its duties to achieve its goals,

the KPU of Bengkulu Province can perform effectively. This can be seen from the

ultimate goal of the implementation of the 2020 Bengkulu Governor and Deputy

Governor Elections can be achieved, namely the election of the Governor and Deputy

Governor of Bengkulu in 2020 until the inauguration.

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Eko Dafella, Achmad Aminudin, Nour Farozi Agus (2023)

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