KPU Allocates Rp1.42 Trillion for 2029 Election Stages in 2027 Budget

The General Election Commission (KPU) of Indonesia has earmarked Rp1.42 trillion (approximately $87 million USD) for the preparatory stages of the 2029 general elections. This significant sum is included within the indicative budget ceiling of Rp4.68 trillion for the 2027 fiscal year.

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Non-operational spending is the budget allocation for the stages of the 2029 election, so the budget for the stages of the 2029 election has partially appeared in the 2027 budget year because some stages will be carried out in 2027.

KPU Chairman Mochammad Afifuddin explained that the 2027 budget comprises Rp2.26 trillion for personnel operational expenses, Rp988 billion for office operational costs, and the remaining Rp1.42 trillion designated as non-operational spending. "Non-operational spending is the budget allocation for the stages of the 2029 election," Afifuddin stated during a meeting with Commission II of the House of Representatives on Monday. He elaborated that some stages of the 2029 election will commence in 2027, necessitating this early allocation.

Key expenditures within this non-operational budget include approximately Rp339 billion for planning activities related to the 2029 elections. Furthermore, Rp463.3 billion is allocated for the registration and verification of political parties intending to participate in the 2029 elections. The formation of ad hoc bodies, which are crucial for election execution, is budgeted at around Rp187 billion, as party registration typically begins earlier.

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The formation of Ad hoc Bodies because party registration has started, usually some Ad hoc Bodies have started to be recruited. The budget is around Rp187 billion.

To manage voter data, KPU has allocated Rp239.3 billion for updating voter rolls and compiling the final voter list. Another Rp164.7 billion is set aside for determining the number of seats and electoral districts (dapil). Finally, Rp33.2 billion is designated for the nomination process for presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as well as candidates for the national and regional legislative bodies. Afifuddin emphasized that these initial stages must begin in the current year, guided by existing election laws and past KPU procedures.

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So it means that some of these stages we must start in this year by temporarily referring to the existing election laws including the stages as were done by the KPU 5 years ago.