General Elections 2019: 

Know and Participate!

Student Discussion at Stube-HEMAT Sumba

Entering 2019 Indonesia keep on preparing a ‘democracy party’ that will be held on April 17, 2019. A type of democratic country is the best choice for this nation, therefore general election is the legitimate way to elect state leaders and representatives of the nation having ethnic diversities, languages, cultures and religions.

Every citizen should have awareness to take part in the party. Even each is expected to be proactive supporting the steps of implementation of the general election. Also the young and millennials group that reach more than 60 million from more than 190 million voters (according to KPU RI data) are expected to use their rights to vote. This is a significant numbers of young and millennial voters for such election, as they will also determine the future of the nation.

As the follow-up of church and political training at GKS Okanggapi, branch of GKS Umamapu (15-17/ 2/2019), Stube-HEMAT Sumba held a discussion with East Sumba Regional Election Commission (KPU Sumba Timur) on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at Stube-HEMAT Sumba Secretariat. Oktavianus Landi, the chairman of East Sumba Regional Election Commission, was the speaker at the discussion. Eighteen students, youth and Stube team took part in it. Most of the participants were currently previous trainees.

Octavianus, in his presentation conveyed several matters relating to the implementation of elections, voters, the candidates of legislative, and the challenges faced in general elections. This year's election is much challenging because it is simultaneously vote covering president, regional representatives, Indonesian House of Representatives members both in Provincial level and regional level. Let us make our participation real by giving vote to credible leaders. If we abstain, leaders who are not qualified can be in power. In addition, young people and millennials need to be smart againsting the hoax news sent via mobile phones or social media aiming for anxiety.

In the discussion, Andani, one of the participants, a student of Unwina Sumba asked about how to explain the detailed technique of election to elderly, because the election is not easy with five kinds of vote cards and five boxes. Answering that question Octavianus explained that there will be volunteers who will explain the voting steps in the five boxes and also the responsibility of the legislative candidates during the campaign to publish and make socialization of the party numbers and candidates on the vote sheet.

Finally, the discussion participants committed to support the election by sharing knowledge about politics for the community and participating in elections. Let us establish good cooperation with various parties to succeed the election without scoffing others or spreading hoaxes either before or after the election in order to realize the welfare of the nation. (Meliani).