Indonesia’s Constitutional Court has rejected a legal challenge seeking a modification to the country’s election ballot system. As a result, future elections will continue to allow direct voting for individual lawmakers. The decision comes ahead of the simultaneous legislative and presidential elections scheduled for February 2024.
The lawsuit, filed by multiple politicians, including members of the ruling Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), aimed to reinstate the closed ballot system. Concerns had been raised regarding potential political interference in the upcoming elections.
One of the judges, Suhartoyo, stated that the court considered the open system to promote “healthy competition” and offer “flexibility to the voters.” Critics argued that changing the current open system would have regressed Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, to the era of authoritarian rule when political party leaders had sole authority in appointing lawmakers.
The case was met with opposition from eight out of nine parties represented in parliament, including those aligned with the ruling PDI-P.
