Money politics is still one of the problems in the democratic party, namely during the general election. When the campaign period is being carried out by election participants and sympathizers compete to get as many votes as possible, money politics is prone to occur. However, it was recorded that until October, which had entered the campaign period ahead of the simultaneous regional head elections, in Papua Province there had been no reports from the public regarding the practice of money politics. Of course, this is good news considering that this is the first time that the people of Papua, which is divided into several provinces, will hold regional head elections.
Public awareness to avoid money politics is included in the efforts initiated by the Papua Provincial General Election Commission and also the Papua Provincial General Election Supervisory Agency. Apart from the two bureaus that manage the general election, the provision of education regarding the dangers of money politics is assisted by the State Civil Apparatus, the Indonesian National Army, and the Indonesian National Police. Money politics is considered one of the most dangerous threats that can have a negative impact on the implementation of the general election. So that the community feels the need for assistance from all parties so that when there is an offer of money politics, the community will immediately collect evidence and report it to the authorities so that anyone who carries out money politics will be processed in accordance with applicable laws and given punishment so that it becomes a lesson for the community not to be involved in money politics at all.
Efforts by sympathizers in campaigning so that the regional head candidates they nominate get votes from the community can be done in various ways other than money politics. One of them is by exchanging ideas including explaining what vision and mission they have when given the opportunity to lead regions in Papua. The Papuan community has also begun to be sensitive to the situation and wants to learn together to carry out simultaneous regional head elections ideally. For this reason, the community also hopes that the regional head candidates will prioritize educational campaigns and that there will be discussions so that the community will get to know them better and what superior programs will be implemented.
The hope of the Papua Provincial Election Commission and the Papua Provincial Election Supervisory Body is that money politics really does not occur during the regional head election process taking place in all regions in Papua. Only one month left until the election day and there have been no reports of violations during the campaign period and no reports of money politics practices in the community. The hope that the general election will take place peacefully and smoothly will be realized along with public awareness that is collaborated with all parties to jointly reject the practice of money politics.
