The elections agency says it has been improving the vote-counting digital platform, especially the application program to input vote data, while also preparing the regulations to make sure the system works well by the time of the elections.

We have reasons to doubt the KPU and its capability to run the tech system.  

In the aftermath of the general election, the discrepancies between the vote totals shown on the platform and the results of the manual count caused uproar among political parties and candidates.

The incongruity, along with accusations of voter data leaks, sparked public criticism that forced the KPU to halt the use of Sirekap, otherwise the credibility of the election would have been in jeopardy.

While the KPU managed to complete the manual count and announce the election winners, there was little public trust in the platform and the elections agency’s competence in running the system. This was clearly shown in a hearing at the House of Representatives last week, in which lawmakers suggested that the KPU dump the platform unless it can improve the system.   

The recent sex scandal that cost then KPU chief Hasyim Asy’ari his job has further exacerbated the public distrust in the elections agency. As the KPU is struggling to restore its reputation, doubts have loomed over whether acting KPU chairman Afifuddin can navigate the institution to clean up its act, especially the problematic Sirekap.

This is not to mention that the public trust in the state’s commitment to data protection has plummeted to its lowest ebb after the recent ransomware attack on a temporary national data center. The incident was the latest cyberattack targeting the government’s cyber system within the past year, after at least three major cyberattacks on the National Police, the Immigration Office and state-owned lender Bank Syariah Indonesia.  

If the Communications and Information Ministry, the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) and related institutions responsible for data protection cannot perform their duties effectively, how are we to believe the KPU can do a better job, even if it does employ the best cybersecurity talent? The Sirekap saga has said it all.  

But this is not an excuse for the elections agency to let things slide. We still need a reliable vote tabulation platform to monitor the results of the regional elections that will be held simultaneously in 37 provinces and 508 cities and regencies.

As an archipelagic country in which hundreds of regions are separated by sea, a good real-time and online vote count can help ease logistics problems and restore high trust in the way the KPU administers one of the world’s largest one-day elections.

Fresh from the ransomware attack, the government should have better tech and cybersecurity experts at the ready by now. Fixing Sirekap should be top priority considering that the Nov. 27 regional head elections will serve as a major opportunity for the country to preserve its hard-won democracy.

Not only will this be the first time that all regions will hold elections at the same time, but it will also test the country's ability to practice full circle democracy by choosing the best regional leaders. After the country has proven that it can hold a peaceful general election, a successful Sirekap in supporting the regional elections can restore public confidence in the government's technical capabilities.

The Nov. 27 regional elections will be a time of redemption for the KPU and the government. They had better not waste it, as there may not be a third time lucky.