Democracy and Pandemic: Evaluating Health Protocol Compliance in Regional Election Using Integrated Monitoring System

Abstract

Purpose: Indonesia decided to hold simultaneous local elections on December 9, 2020, along with 270 regionals including provincial, regency, and city election although concerns arise that it will have an impact to the number of Covid-19 cases in the country. The aim of this study is to describe the health protocol compliance during simultaneous regional elections in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia using an integrated monitoring system. Methods & Materials: The data has been collected from the Indonesia National Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Mitigation by using the Bersatu Lawan COVID-19 (BLC) digital monitoring app. The monitoring system was reported in real-time by Indonesian front-line public order forces (such as police and military) at regional election places. Individual and polling stations compliance were monitored in order to minimize the potential of COVID-19 transmission during the election process. Results: A total of 309,236 voters’ behaviours were monitored in 272 districts/cities across 32 provinces in Indonesia. The overall figures show 95.96% compliance of wearing masks and 90.77% of people kept a social distance during the election day. However, the results have shown variation of compliance rate among districts and cities. Out of 272 districts/cities observed, 16 (5.88%) had wearing mask compliance rate <75% and 44 (16.18%) had distance compliance rate <75%.A total of 4,065 polling stations were observed with 92.82% of them had high compliance to the implementation of health protocol with details a follow. 91.55% provided hand washing facilities; 90.71% provided hand sanitizers; 89.52% had temperature check; 87.29% had health protocol compliance supervisors; 75.23% performed disinfection; 91.66% provided plastic gloves for voters; 92.91% election committee wore face shield; 88.98% provided ink drops; and 77.80% provided special chamber for voters with 37.3°C. Conclusion: In general, using the application of digital health, Indonesia as the 4th most populous country in the world enable to monitor the compliance rate of health protocol implementation during simultaneous regional elections in 2020. This represents the first time in which an app implemented nationally can produce data to be analysed on real-time basis and using an integrated approach to inform policy makers.