REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- General Election Commission (KPU) commissioner Wahyu Setiawan concerned with the condition when election participants reported each other. He feared it would obscure the substance of the campaign.
KPU reminded that the campaign period should be used to maximize all campaign methods properly. According to Wahyu, the campaign should be carried out to explain election participants' vision, mission, and program. Thus, the campaign provides an element of education to voters.
“There are nine campaign methods, so please use the methods according to the rules, don’t cheat each other and insult. We worried it will cause apathy among voters," Wahyu said on Thursday (Nov 1).
The nine campign methods are limited meetings, face-to-face meetings, campaign material dissemination, installation of campaign props, campaigns through social medias, advertisements in mass media, electronic and internet (with 21 days before election calm), public meetings, candidate debate, as well as a number of other activities that do not conflict with the rules. The nine campaign methods are regulated in Article 275 Law No. 7/2017 on Election.
Since 2019 election campaign period started on Sept 23, there are four incidents. First, incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) - KH Ma’ruf Amin camp filed a report on alleged violation of the campaign against activist Ratna Sarumpaet who was a member of Prabowo Subianto - Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno campaign team.
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Second, Jokowi - Ma’ruf team was reported on alleged campaign violation due to donation advertisement in one of mass medias. Third, Prabowo was reported by Jangkar Solidaritas as one of PSI legal team due to alleged campaign violation during declaration in East Jakarta. Last, Jokowi was reported due to alleged campaign violation as he freed the Suramadu bridge as non-toll bridge last week.
Campaign period for 2019 election is scheduled until April 13, 2019. Meanwhile, campaign on mass media can be done 21 days before election calm period, which is from March 24, 2019 to April 13, 2019.