HARIANEXPRESS – A new idea for regional elections, suggesting voters only choose the head of a region without a running mate, has recently come to light. In response to this proposal, the Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan Central Executive Board, Ganjar Pranowo, has urged the House of Representatives (DPR) to establish a special committee (Pansus). He believes this committee is crucial for a comprehensive discussion on election and regional election system changes, preventing fragmented policy decisions.
Ganjar emphasized on Thursday, August 6, 2026, that the proposal regarding the position of deputy regional heads cannot be separated from the broader agenda of electoral democracy system reform. He argued that discussions should encompass all interrelated issues, from the design of national and local elections and their schedules to nomination mechanisms and the strengthening of election administration bodies.
Proposal Originates from House Commission II Meeting
The concept of regional elections without a deputy first surfaced during a meeting of House Commission II. Muhammad Khozin, a member of House Commission II from the National Awakening Party (PKB) Faction, presented this idea on July 30, 2026, during a meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs and several regional heads and deputy regional heads.
Khozin suggested that voters should only elect the governor, regent, or mayor. In his proposed scheme, the elected regional head would then appoint their deputy.
He reasoned that this model could prevent the deputy position from being merely a vote-getter during campaigns, only for the elected deputy to then lack adequate workspace after assuming office.
This idea has reignited debates about the effectiveness of the relationship between regional heads and their deputies. However, implementing such a change would require amendments to the existing legal framework governing regional elections.
Undang-Undang Nomor 10 Tahun 2016 yang masih berlaku mengatur pemilihan gubernur dan wakil gubernur, bupati dan wakil bupati, serta wali kota dan wakil wali kota sebagai pasangan calon. Karena itu, penerapan skema baru memerlukan perubahan pada kerangka hukum pilkada.
Ganjar Calls for Broad Reform Beyond Single Issue
Ganjar believes that electoral system improvements must address a wider range of issues beyond just the mechanism for selecting deputy regional heads. He highlighted several critical areas for discussion within the election design.
These include the codification of political laws, the separation of national and local elections, and a reordering of the simultaneous election and regional election schedules. For presidential elections, Ganjar listed the presidential nomination threshold as a key topic for debate.
Regarding elections for members of the DPR and Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD), Ganjar emphasized the importance of the parliamentary threshold, the delineation of electoral districts, seat allocation, and the methods for converting votes into seats. In the context of regional elections, he argued that discussions should cover the choice between a direct system and other alternatives, nomination thresholds, requirements for independent candidates, and polling schedules. All these issues have significant implications for political representation, candidate competition, and the quality of public participation.
Strengthening Election Organizers and Integrity
Beyond election design, Ganjar also called for strengthening the institutional capacity of the General Election Commission (KPU), the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), and the Election Organizer Ethics Council (DKPP). This institutional enhancement should include mechanisms for recruitment, dispute resolution, and the integration of digital technology in election administration.
He further stressed that integrity must be a central component of any reform efforts. Issues such as money politics, the neutrality of state civil apparatus (ASN), women’s representation, and regional representation need systematic handling, rather than being addressed through isolated rule revisions.
Context of National and Local Elections
The discussion on electoral reform gained new relevance after the Constitutional Court issued Decision Number 135/PUU-XXII/2024. This ruling mandates the separation of national and local elections starting in 2029.
National elections will involve the selection of the president and vice president, DPR, and Regional Representative Council (DPD) members. Meanwhile, local elections will cover the election of provincial and regency/city DPRD members, along with governors, regents, mayors, and their deputies.
The Constitutional Court determined that this separation is necessary to simplify the process for voters and alleviate the burden on election organizers. It also aims to ensure that local development issues are not overshadowed by national political contests.
Given these changes to the electoral calendar, the DPR and the government are now faced with the task of adjusting various political laws. In this context, Ganjar urged that the proposal for regional elections without deputies should not be decided hastily. Instead, he believes it should be part of a comprehensive evaluation of Indonesia’s overall election architecture.
Ultimately, the debate over the existence of deputy regional heads is not merely about ballot paper format. It also touches upon the distribution of authority, governmental accountability, the stability of regional leadership, and the rights of voters to choose their governing pair. A transparent, participatory, and research-based discussion is essential to ensure that any changes not only resolve short-term problems but also genuinely strengthen governance and local democracy.
The call for a comprehensive approach highlights the intricate nature of electoral system reform. Resolving issues like the role of deputy regional heads requires careful consideration within the broader framework of democratic governance.
This ongoing dialogue, therefore, represents a critical moment for shaping Indonesia’s future electoral landscape, ensuring robust and accountable leadership at both national and local levels.
