2017 Regional Elections: West Papua Most Vulnerable to Money Politics

West Papua was the province most vulnerable to vote buying in the simultaneous Regional Head Elections held on February 15, 2017. The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), in its release, noted that 2,048 polling stations (TPS) in West Papua were vulnerable to vote buying. Similarly, 2,000 polling stations in Banten were also at risk.

According to Bawaslu official Daniel Zuchron, at least three dimensions indicate vulnerability: voter data, logistics availability, involvement of state officials, vote buying, and vote counting procedures. Vote buying can take the form of promises or the provision of money, goods, or services to potential voters to secure victory for a particular candidate.

The General Election Commission (KPU) held simultaneous regional elections on February 15, 2017. These elections covered 7 provinces, 76 regencies, and 18 cities. The seven provinces were DKI Jakarta, Aceh, West Papua, Banten, Gorontalo, and Bangka Belitung. (Note: DKI Jakarta is listed twice in the original text; this redundancy has been corrected.)