Empowering Communities through Electoral Law Reform: The Challenge of Single-Candidate Elections in Indonesia

TY - JOUR

T1 - Empowering Communities through Electoral Law Reform

T2 - The Challenge of Single-Candidate Elections in Indonesia

AU - Sistyawan, Dwanda Julisa

AU - Jayawibawa, Marcellus

AU - Neonbeni, Randy Vallentino

AU - Judijanto, Loso

AU - Sally, Novian Uticha

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Author(s).

PY - 2025/8/16

Y1 - 2025/8/16

N2 - This study examines the increasing prevalence of single-candidate elections in Indonesia’s regional (Pilkada) contests and their implications for community empowerment and local democracy. These elections undermine democratic principles by restricting voter choice, weakening political competition, fostering voter apathy, and disempowering communities. The study employs a community-based qualitative approach, focusing on the analysis of relevant laws, Constitutional Court decisions, reports from the General Election Commission (KPU), and scholarly literature. Findings indicate that the dominance of major party coalitions and entrenched incumbents marginalizes communities, limits alternative leadership, and weakens accountability. This study highlights that electoral reform is not merely technical but also a crucial instrument for empowering communities by restoring their sovereignty and agency in governance. To address these challenges, the study recommends comprehensive reforms, including strengthened political education for first-time voters, improved transparency, stricter controls on money politics, and greater opportunities for independent and minority candidates. Such measures are essential to revitalizing local democracy, promoting political diversity, and ensuring inclusive and competitive regional elections that reflect the aspirations and sovereignty of the people.

AB - This study examines the increasing prevalence of single-candidate elections in Indonesia’s regional (Pilkada) contests and their implications for community empowerment and local democracy. These elections undermine democratic principles by restricting voter choice, weakening political competition, fostering voter apathy, and disempowering communities. The study employs a community-based qualitative approach, focusing on the analysis of relevant laws, Constitutional Court decisions, reports from the General Election Commission (KPU), and scholarly literature. Findings indicate that the dominance of major party coalitions and entrenched incumbents marginalizes communities, limits alternative leadership, and weakens accountability. This study highlights that electoral reform is not merely technical but also a crucial instrument for empowering communities by restoring their sovereignty and agency in governance. To address these challenges, the study recommends comprehensive reforms, including strengthened political education for first-time voters, improved transparency, stricter controls on money politics, and greater opportunities for independent and minority candidates. Such measures are essential to revitalizing local democracy, promoting political diversity, and ensuring inclusive and competitive regional elections that reflect the aspirations and sovereignty of the people.

KW - Community empowerment

KW - Electoral reform

KW - Local democracy

KW - Political participation

KW - Single-candidate elections

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105014637579

U2 - 10.15294/jphi.v8i1.23294

DO - 10.15294/jphi.v8i1.23294

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105014637579

SN - 2654-8305

VL - 8

SP - 163

EP - 192

JO - Jurnal Pengabdian Hukum Indonesia

JF - Jurnal Pengabdian Hukum Indonesia

IS - 1

M1 - 23294

ER -