Taming the twin hazards: Indonesia's 2020 direct local elections

This case study elaborates experiences of local election officials and what they have prepared for the future, with a focus on two contrasting districts: Semarang City (capital of Central Java Province — which was not flooded on election day itself) and to its east Demak, one of Indonesia’s most severely flood-affected regions.T

Τhe year 2020 was very challenging for electoral stakeholders and administrators Indonesia; direct local elections were held simultaneously in all regions of the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Compounding this challenge, the 2020 direct local elections were held on 9 December, which coincides with the peak period of the rainy season in Indonesia.

Despite this risk-prone context — and specific Covid-19 legislation aside — Indonesia’s election laws have yet to fully specify how to deal with natural hazards.