Democracy Without Choice: A Legal Evaluation of the 2024 Banjarbaru Regional Election
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18592/jils.v9i2.17827Abstract
The phenomenon of a single candidate and the absence of a blank vote option in the 2024 Banjarbaru local election has raised serious concerns about the quality of local democracy in Indonesia. Although legally valid, the limited political choice reflects a degradation of democratic substance and threatens public trust. This study aims to analyze the legal and political dynamics surrounding the case and to evaluate the legal mechanisms in place to safeguard the quality of democracy. This research uses a normative legal method with a case study approach, supported by qualitative analysis of legislation and Constitutional Court decisions. The findings indicate that elections without genuine alternatives violate the principles of participation and contestation as proposed in Robert A. Dahl's theory of polyarchy and contradict the values of public interest as outlined in Jasser Auda’s concept of maqasid shariah. Although the Constitutional Court ordered a re-vote, the legitimacy of the election process had already been undermined. In conclusion, lawful procedures alone are insufficient to ensure a fair democracy if they are not implemented inclusively and participatively. A thorough evaluation of regulations and institutional integrity is necessary to ensure that democracy is not merely procedural, but also substantive.Downloads
Published
2025-07-23
Issue
Section
Articles
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.