The Noken system is one of the systems used by the people of Central Papua Province in the general election process. In November 2024, there will be simultaneous regional head elections throughout Indonesia including in Central Papua Province and people living in several areas in the province will use the noken system in the process of determining their choices. The areas in Central Papua Province that will use the noken system in the upcoming regional head elections are Puncak Jaya Regency, Intan Jaya Regency, Paniai Regency, Dogiyai Regency, Puncak Regency, and Deiyai ​​Regency. The six regencies have long used the noken system in the general and regional head election process.
The special features of Central Papua Province with the implementation of special autonomy mean that the culture of the indigenous Papuan people can be used in daily activities without violating regulations. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia ratified the noken system in the democratic party process such as general elections and regional head elections after coordinating with the General Election Commission of the Republic of Indonesia. Such local wisdom does not violate any legal principles and is still considered a real manifestation of the democratic system that runs in the government of the Republic of Indonesia.
There are two noken systems used by indigenous Papuans in general and regional elections. First, the noken system where all voting rights held by the community in an area will follow the tribal chief. So, if the tribal chief has made a choice, all the people will agree with that choice. So that in one community there will be one common choice. Second, the noken system where the noken, which is a cultural product in the form of a bag produced by indigenous Papuans, will be used as a substitute for ballot boxes. All attributes and facilities for general elections provided by the General Election Commission, such as ballots, will still be used. However, instead of being put into the ballot boxes that have been provided, the community will put the ballots into the noken. In this second system, there is only a substitution between the ballot box and the noken.
The Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia considers the noken system still used by indigenous Papuans in Central Papua Province as a customary right that must be respected and even preserved. The existence of the noken system is proof of the implementation of democracy and also the special autonomy given to indigenous Papuans. Peace is created because the noken system can reduce conflicts that can arise in the general and regional election process. Customary rights must be respected by everyone and as long as the noken system is not considered a violation of the general election process and is declared valid by the organizers, the noken system has the right to continue to be implemented.
