MK Separates National and Local Election Implementation, Here is the Ministry of Home Affairs' Response

SUMEDANG, KOMPAS - The Constitutional Court has decided to separate the implementation of national elections and local elections, which will take effect starting in 2029. The Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that it will study the decision in depth.

This was conveyed by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto during a retreat for regional heads at the Institute of Domestic Government (IPDN) in Jatinangor, Sumedang Regency, West Java, Thursday (26/6/2025).

Bima stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs will comprehensively review the decision. The follow-up to this decision will also be integrated into the ongoing process of revising the Election Law currently taking place in parliament.

"The decision of the Constitutional Court will serve as an important input in the revision process. The decision of the Constitutional Court is final and binding, but the implementation certainly needs to be considered carefully," he continued.

According to Bima, the implementation of the decision requires careful planning and coordination to avoid technical and administrative issues at both the central and regional levels.

He also revealed that the discourse on separating national elections and local elections has actually been voiced for a long time by various groups, especially academics and election observers. "Thus, this decision is also a response to various inputs from the public," he stated.

Previously, the Constitutional Court decided that the simultaneous implementation of constitutional elections is to separate national elections from local elections. This system must be implemented starting in 2029.

This is stated in Decision Number 135/PUU-XXII/2024 regarding the application submitted by the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem). The decision was pronounced during a session held on Thursday (26/6/2025) in the Plenary Room of the Constitutional Court.

Based on that decision, the national election is held to elect members of the DPR, members of the DPD, and the president-vice president. Meanwhile, local elections are conducted to elect members of the provincial and district/city DPRD, as well as governors-vice governors, regents-vice regents, and mayors-vice mayors.

The simultaneous elections, previously known as the "five box elections," are no longer in effect. According to the Constitutional Court, the separation is intended to realize quality elections while considering the ease and simplicity for voters in exercising their right to vote as a manifestation of the people's sovereignty.

"With this establishment, it is important for the Court to affirm that all models of election administration, including the elections for governor and deputy governor, regent and deputy regent, as well as mayor and deputy mayor that have been conducted thus far remain constitutional," said Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra.

The Constitutional Court's decision is final and binding, but how it is implemented certainly needs to be considered carefully.