by | INGOT SIMANGUNSONG
PANGKALPINANG has once again recorded a unique history in Indonesian democracy.
In the 2024 Pangkalpinang Mayoral Election (Pilwako) which took place on Wednesday (11/27/2024), the empty column once again won the hearts of the people.
Based on the provisional results announced on Wednesday night, the empty column won 61 percent of the valid votes, leaving behind the single candidate pair who only won 39 percent of the votes.
The Head of the Pangkalpinang Empty Box Volunteers, Eka Mulya Putra, expressed his gratitude for this result.
“Based on the data entered into our tabulation, the empty column won 61 percent of the valid votes.
This is real proof that the people of Pangkalpinang want a leader who truly represents their aspirations,” said Eka.
This result confirms that the people of Pangkalpinang do not just follow the flow, but carefully consider their choices.
This election reflects increasingly critical political dynamics, where the empty column is a symbol of dissatisfaction with the single candidate pair who are considered unable to provide real solutions for the progress of the city.
Message Behind the Choice of the Empty Column
The victory of the empty column is not just a rejection of the single candidate pair, but also a strong message from the community to the government and political parties.
They demand a more open, transparent, and competitive democratic process, where more quality candidates can advance to lead this city.
The next step, the Pangkalpinang General Election Commission (KPU) will rearrange the Pilwako schedule according to applicable regulations.
The city of Pangkalpinang is now entering a new challenging chapter, considering that this decision requires a temporary government reorganization until the Pilwako is held again.
The victory of the empty column in Pangkalpinang 2024 is a reminder that the voice of the people is the greatest power in democracy, which must continue to be respected and maintained.
The community hopes that this momentum will be a turning point to create a better government and embrace the aspirations of all citizens.
History of the Empty Box in Regional Head Elections in Indonesia
Background to the Empty Box
The empty box is a unique democratic phenomenon in Indonesia that has emerged since the enactment of Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning Regional Elections.
This law stipulates that regional elections can still be held even if there is only one candidate pair running.
To maintain the principles of democracy, the KPU provides an empty column on the ballot paper as an alternative for voters who do not want to support a single candidate pair.
Philosophy and function of the Empty Box
The empty box is not only a symbol of “not voting”, but also represents a form of criticism of a single candidate pair.
Its presence allows the public to still exercise their right to vote by expressing their rejection of candidates who are considered not to meet expectations.
The Empty Box Phenomenon in Regional Elections
Since its presence, the empty box has won the regional elections several times. Here are some examples of empty box victories:
Makassar (2018): The empty column defeated the single candidate pair Munafri Arifuddin-Andi Rachmatika Dewi with 53 percent of the vote.
Bone Bolango (2020): The empty box won over the single candidate pair Hamim Pou-Merlan Uloli by winning 52.64 percent of the vote.
Tulang Bawang Barat (2020): The empty box defeated the pair Umar Ahmad-Fauzi Hasan with 56.9 percent of the vote.
Reasons for the emergence of single candidate pairs
The presence of single candidate pairs is often caused by certain political dominance in a region, either through control of political parties or because of the weak regeneration of prospective leaders.
As a result, people who disagree with the single candidate choose to support the empty box as a form of protest.
Legal implications and next steps
When the empty box wins, a repeat election must be held, and an acting regional head (Pj) will be appointed until the repeat election process is complete.
This is often a challenge because it requires additional budget and time to repeat the election process.
A Living Symbol of Democracy
The empty box phenomenon confirms that Indonesian democracy still provides space for the public to voice their disagreement within a constitutional framework.
This also serves as a reminder for political parties to be more serious in offering competent candidate leaders who are able to fulfill the aspirations of the people.
The presence of the empty box is a reflection of the dynamics of Indonesian democracy that continues to develop.
Although considered controversial, this phenomenon is proof that the people’s voice remains the final determinant in the political process.
