Under KPU Regulation No. 6/2020 on regional elections amid COVID-19 published on Tuesday, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post, election participants are only allowed to hold physical mass campaigns in zones declared COVID-19-free by the local COVID-19 task force.

"Election participants must make an effort to carry out mass campaigns through online media,” the regulation stated.

Any physical mass campaigns must be held in an open space, starting at 9 a.m. local time and ending no later than 5 p.m. The venue must not exceed 50 percent of its capacity, and a distance of 1 meter must be maintained between participants.

The regulation also stipulated that election debates should only be attended by the candidate pairs, a limited number of campaign team members and election organizers.

Debates should be held in a broadcasting studio or other location without inviting other people or supporters in order to avoid virus transmission.

In addition to physical mass campaigns, the KPU still allows several other methods such as face-to-face meetings and dialogues, campaign material distribution, campaign advertisements in mass media, and/or other activities such as physical and virtual mass campaigns like performing arts events and social activities.

Popular

Mass poisonings cast doubt on free meals reforms

New data rules could unlock cross-border data flows

Malaysia must not breathe Indonesia’s governance failure