The Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem), in collaboration with the Faculty of Da'wah and Communication Sciences (FDIKOM) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, and the P2KM of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, organized the National Seminar Election Fest on March 19, 2024. This event aimed to explore critical thoughts in evaluating the 2024 election process and directing changes for the future of democracy in Indonesia.

Speakers from various political backgrounds participated in the event, including Manik Margana Mahendra from the Perindo Party, Farah Savira from the Golkar Party, and Gustie Arief from the Nasdem Party. They shared in-depth views on the challenges and solutions in the election process.

One of the speakers, Gustie Arief, highlighted the intense competition in Indonesian politics.

"Politics in Indonesia is brutal; if you don't have deep pockets and a strong mentality, you won't make it," said Gustie, describing the challenges faced in the political arena.

He also emphasized the importance of speaking up and addressing issues as the first step toward change.

Meanwhile, Farah Savira pointed out that Legislative Elections (Pileg) receive insufficient attention from both the media and the system.

"Hundreds of legislative candidates in Jakarta and thousands from other regions, whether for the national parliament (DPR RI), provincial parliament (DPRD province), or city parliament (DPRD city), struggle both internally and in the community,” she noted.

A graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, USA, Farah added, "It is very difficult to reach voters, there is a lack of media coverage, and the public is not aware of the importance of DPRD members," highlighting some challenges faced in the election process.

On the other hand, Manik Margana Mahendra emphasized that entering politics is a choice.

"Even though many people say politics is dirty, there will always be someone sitting in those seats, and they will make policies that impact our daily lives," he stated, stressing the need for a shift in political paradigms.

The former Executive Board Member (BEM) of the University of Indonesia (2019-2020) also mentioned the difficulty in conveying new ideas and concepts because many people are still stuck in old mindsets.

"Challenges often arise in promoting ideas because people are accustomed to practices where votes are bought with money at polling stations," Manik explained.

He further emphasized that politics is not just about offering superior programs.

"Ultimately, politics is a two-way work idea. One wise politician introduces and sells his ideas, and second when wise citizens are willing to consume them. If one of them is missing, our substantial politics will never level up," Manik concluded.

The Dean of FDIKOM UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Dr. Gun Gun Heryanto, highlighted the crucial role of political parties in shaping Indonesia's democratic direction.

“Political parties have a vital role in recruitment, distribution, and allocation of people to important government positions,” he noted, stressing the importance of political parties in determining the country's political direction.

The political communication expert also emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance of power within democracy. He highlighted that the state should transcend narrow political interests.

“The state must go beyond impartial interests for the three branches of power, including the executive, legislative, and especially the judiciary.”

He pointed out that when state budgets are too heavily allocated for political interests, it can lead to the misuse of state funds for political persuasion.

“Our politics are accustomed to using state budget allocations by those with budget access as a means of persuasion,” Gun Gun Heryanto revealed. He mentioned that this is often done by leveraging simple issues easily understood by the public, such as welfare and social assistance.

The political communication expert also highlighted the dangers of "pay of idea" practices in political communication, where voters' ideas are influenced improperly. "This must not continue," he asserted.

Gun Gun also provided insights into the impact of voter awareness on money politics in elections.

"The more informed the voters, the less influence money politics will have," Gun Gun firmly stated. His remarks underscored that higher voter awareness reduces the impact of money politics in the election process.

Furthermore, Gun Gun expressed his belief that empowering voters is a long-term solution to addressing money politics issues.

"Empowered voters will eliminate recurring issues like money politics or vote-buying," he emphasized.

His statement highlighted the critical role of voters in ensuring the integrity and transparency of the election process. Voters should not only be objects of political mobilization but also agents of change capable of countering practices that undermine democracy.

“In the context of voter participation, it is important to understand that the success of elections is measured not just by the number of voters but also by their quality,” he explained.

The Executive Director of Perludem, Khoirotunnisa N Agustyaty, added her perspective on electoral law evaluation and the role of institutions like Bawaslu.

"The chosen system model impacts its governance; election management cannot be separated," she stated, stressing the importance of reforming the electoral system and effective law enforcement.

From the discussions held during this seminar, it was clear that evaluating elections is not just about counting votes but also about formulating concrete steps to enhance the quality of democracy in Indonesia. Through collaboration between various stakeholders, innovative solutions are expected to emerge, bringing positive changes to the future of Indonesian politics. [Author: Latifahtul Jannah]