Gov’t, DPR, Election Organizer Agree to Hold General Elections on February 14, 2024

Working meeting and hearing on the 2024 Simultaneous Election schedule determination at Nusantara Building in Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (01/24). (Photo by: PR of Ministry of Home Affairs)

The House of Representatives (DPR), the Government, and the general election organizer have agreed that the election day to elect the president, vice president, and members of the DPR, the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) at provincial and municipal level, and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) is set to be held on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

The agreement was made during a work meeting and hearing on the 2024 Simultaneous Election schedule determination held at Nusantara Building in Senayan, South Jakarta, Monday (01/24).

The meeting was attended by Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian, as well as representatives from the General Election Commission (KPU), the General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), and the Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP).

“The national simultaneous election for governors and vice governors, regents and vice regents, mayors and vice mayors will be held on Wednesday, November 27, 2024,” Head of Commission II of the DPR Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung said, adding that stages, programs, and schedule of the 2024 General Elections will be set after the DPR, the Government, and election organizers conduct a further examination.

“After a year of discussing this, we have agreed on what all Indonesian people are certainly waiting for,” he added.

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian have previously pointed out that the Government has agreed that the 2024 Elections will be held on February 14.

“We concluded that the Government has agreed on February 14,” he said.

According to Tito, the date will give a space between the 2024 General Elections and Simultaneous Regional Elections, which will be held in November that year.

“It will give a room for [the 2024] Simultaneous Elections that according to Law Number 10 of 2016 will be held in November. Therefore, there is time between February and November because it provides enough space if there is a second round, for example,” he said.

Tito also stated that the Government expressed hope that the election schedule is determined based on the efficiency principle as the country is still in the process of economic and financial condition recovery, both at the central and regional levels.

The efficiency principle, Tito added, will affect campaign budget and stage.

“It can also utilize time that we consider able to be shortened, such as campaign stage, which will also give enough time to the organizers to carry out other processes,” he said.

Reflecting the success of the 2020 Simultaneous Elections, Tito urged the organizers to take positive lessons that can be implemented in the 2024 General and Regional Elections and to avoid making the same mistakes, such as the long campaign period that resulted in a divided society.

“We are aware that election is the hallmark of democracy. It is the most important peak of democracy, the only moment when every citizen is able to use their democracy right. Therefore, one thing is certain. We must manage to prevent differences to become potentials of conflicts,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Head of the KPU Ilham Saputra pointed out that the 2024 General Elections is set to be held on February 14, which falls on Wednesday, the day general elections have always occurred.

“February 14 is a Wednesday. Wednesday has always been the day when general elections are held from year to year. February 14 was also proposed during the first deliberation between the Government and the DPR,” he said. (PR of DPR/PR of Ministry of Home Affairs/UN) (DH/EP)