Implementasi Undang-Undang Tahun 2017 tentang Pemilu: Analisis Peran Bawaslu pada Pemilihan Kepala Daerah di Kabupaten Serdang Bedagai Tahun 2020

Abstract

Elections constitute a fundamental mechanism for sustaining contemporary democracy, particularly in managing political representation and safeguarding electoral integrity amid diverse social and political interests. This study examines how the Election Supervisory Body (Badan Pengawas Pemilu/Bawaslu) implemented and exercised its supervisory role in the 2020 Regional Head Election in Serdang Bedagai Regency. The research addresses the question of whether and how Bawaslu effectively enforced electoral supervision in accordance with Law Number 7 of 2017 while upholding ethical principles. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, document analysis, and direct observation involving election supervisors, community members, local leaders, and village officials. The findings reveal that Bawaslu of Serdang Bedagai successfully implemented participatory election supervision and fulfilled its mandate as an independent oversight institution. Its supervisory practices were characterized by a strong commitment to integrity, honesty, and accountability, grounded both in statutory regulations and Islamic legal principles derived from the Qur’an and Hadith. The study further argues that the post-2017 legal framework contributed to a measurable decline in electoral violations, demonstrating that normatively grounded and participatory supervision strengthens electoral integrity and reinforces democratic governance at the local level.