DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/lr.v22i2.74052

Diagnosing Electoral System Performance: A Juridical Analysis of Open-List Proportional Representation in Indonesia

1Faculty of Law, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia

2Faculty of Law, Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku, Indonesia

3Legal Affairs and Business Management Department, Youngsan University, South Korea

Open Access Copyright 2026 LAW REFORM under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.

Citation Format:
Abstract
Indonesia has used an open-list proportional representation system since the 2009 election to strengthen voter-representative linkage and internal party democratization. Yet persistent issues such as money politics, vote-buying, intra-party fragmentation, and low accountability of legislators question whether the system effectively converts voter choice into representative governance. This research diagnoses the performance of Indonesia’s open-list PR system through juridical analysis, focusing on its legal framework, implementation challenges, and compatibility with constitutional principles of popular sovereignty and fair representation. This research is normative juridical research using statutory, conceptual and case approach. The main sources are the Constitution 1945, Law No. 7/2017 on Elections and rulings of the Constitutional Court. Secondary Materials include academic literature and election reports 2009-2024. The results indicate that although the system legally broadens the choice of the voter, its effectiveness is compromised by the inadequate party institutionalisation, the loopholes in the regulation of campaign finance and the inconsistent jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court on election thresholds. It prioritizes individual popularity over party ideology, resulting in weak legislative cohesion. Conclusions that can be drawn are that the open-list system in Indonesia requires substantive reform through stricter campaign finance regulation, stronger internal party mechanisms, and a coherent constitutional interpretation to improve electoral accountability and systemic performance.
Fulltext View|Download Email colleagues
Keywords: Open-list Proportional Representation; Electoral System, Juridical Analysis, Indonesia, Election Law

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Research Article
Language : EN
Most cited articles
PENGATURAN KAWASAN KESELAMATAN OPERASI PENERBANGAN : STUDI TENTANG PELAKSANAAN KEWENANGAN PEMERINTAH DAERAH DALAM MENGENDALIKAN PEMBANGUNAN DAN BENDA TUMBUH DI KAWASAN KESELAMATAN OPERASI PENERBANGAN BANDAR UDARA AHMAD YANI SEMARANG PRIVATISASI BADAN USAHA MILIK NEGARA URGENSI REKONSTRUKSI HUKUM E-COMMERCE DI INDONESIA COUNTER TERRORISM BAGI PELAKU TINDAK PIDANA TERORISME SEBAGAI UPAYA PENANGGULANGAN KEJAHATAN TERORISME DI INDONESIA IMPLEMENTASI PENILAIAN KEBARUAN DAN PRINSIP ITIKAD BAIK DALAM PERLINDUNGAN DESAIN INDUSTRI More cited articles
  1. Al-Fatih, S. (2021). Interpretation of Open Legal Policy by the Constitutional Judges In Judicial Review of Parliamentary Thresholds. Diponegoro Law Review, 6(2), 231-246. https://doi.org/10.14710/dilrev.6.2.2021.231-246
  2. Al-Hamdi, R. (2024). Parties and the Power of Capital Intensive Under Open-List Proportional Representation System: The Case of Indonesia. Masyarakat, Kebudayaan & Politik, 37(2), 150-165. https://doi.org/10. 20473/mkp.V37I22024.150-165
  3. Aminuddin, M. F. (2016). Electoral System and Party Dimension Assessment in Democratic Indonesia. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Ilmu Politik, 20(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.22146/ jsp.17956
  4. Arif, M. S. (2019). Reformulasi Model Penyuaraan Paska Pemilu Serentak 2019: Studi Evaluasi Sistem Proporsional Daftar Terbuka. Jurnal Wacana Politik, 4(2), 6. https://journal.unpad. ac.id/wacanapolitik/vol4/iss2/6
  5. Aris, M. S. (2022). Opportunities and Challenges in the Implementation of Plurality-Majority (District) Electoral System for Strengthening the Indonesian Presidential System. Yuridika, 37(3),563–590. https://doi.org/10.20473/ydk.v37i3.37604
  6. Artina, D., Saragih, G. M., & Lailam, T. (2024). The Philosophical of the Role of the Constitutional Court Related to the Certainty of Gender Equality Rights in Indonesia. SASI, 30(1), 40–55. https://doi.org/10.47268/sasi.v30i1.1765
  7. Bionat, J. F. (2021). The Philippine Party-List System and Representation of Marginalized Populations. WVSU Journal for Law Advocacy,1,1–16. https://repository.wvsu.edu.ph/handle/20.500.14353/175
  8. Budi, A. (2020). Less Democracy, More Centralism: The Selection of Candidates by Golkar and PDIP in Indonesian Subnational Executive Elections, 2005–2020. Asian Journal of Political Science, 28(3), 236–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/02185377.2020.1774909
  9. Carey, J. M., & Shugart, M. S. (1995). Incentives to Cultivate a Personal Vote: A Rank Ordering of Electoral Formulas. Electoral Studies, 14(4), 417–439. https://doi.org/10.1016/0261-3794(94)00035-2
  10. Cheibub, J. A., & Sin, G. (2020). Preference Vote and Intra-Party Competition in Open List PR Systems. Journal of Theoretical Politics, 32(1),70–95. https://doi.org/10.1177/0951629819893024
  11. Christiani, T. A. (2016). Normative and Empirical Research Methods: Their Usefulness and Relevance in the Study of Law as an Object. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 219, 201–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbs pro.2016.05.006
  12. Desai, Z., & Frey, A. (2023). Can Descriptive Representation Help the Right Win Votes from the Poor? Evidence From Brazil. American Journal of Political Science, 67(3), 671–686. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12664
  13. Dettman, S., Pepinsky, T. B., & Pierskalla, J. H. (2017). Incumbency Advantage and Candidate Characteristics in Open-List Proportional Representation Systems: Evidence from Indonesia. Electoral Studies, 48, 111–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. electstud.2017.06.002
  14. Dichio, M. A., & Logvinenko, I. (2024). “Culture and Practice Eat Documents for Lunch:” Norms and Procedures in the 2020 Election Cases. Law and Policy, 46(3), 298–324. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/lapo.12241
  15. Dinarto, D., & Ng, J. (2021). Characterising Independent Candidates in Indonesian Local Politics. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 40(2), 266–292. https://doi.org/10. 1177/1868103420972412
  16. Dirkareshza, R., Simanjuntak, A. A., & Zaifa, G. A. (2024). Reforms of Political Finance: Strengthening Democracy by Reducing the Impact of High-Cost Politics. BESTUURSKUNDE: Journal of Governmental Studies, 4(2), 87–99. https://doi.org/10.53013/bestuurskunde.4.2.87-99
  17. Ekayanta, F. B. (2024). Kesinambungan Sistem Proporsional Terbuka sebagai Sistem Pemilihan Legislatif di Indonesia. Politika: Jurnal Ilmu Politik, 15(2), 201–217. https://doi.org/10.14710/politika.15.2.2024.201-2017
  18. Faiz, P. M. & Winata, M. R. (2019). Respons Konstitusional Larangan Calon Anggota Dewan Perwakilan Daerah Sebagai Pengurus Partai Politik. Jurnal Konstitusi, 16(3),532-558. https://doi.org/10.31078/jk1635
  19. Fossati, D. (2020). Electoral Reform and Partisan Dealignment in Indonesia. International Political Science Review, 41(3), 349–364. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192512119826389
  20. Groshek, J., & Koc-Michalska, K. (2017). Helping Populism Win? Social Media Use, Filter Bubbles, and Support for Populist Presidential Candidates in the 2016 US Election Campaign. Information, Communication & Society, 20(9), 1389–1407. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2017.1329334
  21. Hamudy, M. I. A., & Rifki, M. S. (2019). Strengthening the Multi-Party Presidential Government in Indonesia. Politik Indonesia: Indonesian Political Science Review, 4(2), 208–232. https://doi.org/10.15294/ipsr.v4i2.18447
  22. Hapsari, Y. D. P., & Saraswati, R. (2023). Dampak Pelaksanaan Presidential Threshold pada Pemilu Serentak terhadap Demokrasi di Indonesia. Jurnal Pembangunan Hukum Indonesia,5(1),70-84. https://doi.org/10.14710/jphi.v5i1.70-84
  23. Haryanto, H. (2025). Media Patronage and Political Machines in Local Indonesian Democracy. Media Asia, 53(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10. 1080/01296612.2025.2560 669
  24. Huda, U. N., Arifin, F., Susanto, A. F., & Abdullah, M. K. (2025). Evaluating the Election Law in Indonesia for Strengthening Democracy and Ensuring Honest and Fair Elections, Law Reform,21(2),401-418. https://doi.org/10.14710/lr.v21i2.66848
  25. Jarodi, O., Khafid, M., & Yulianto, A. (2024). From Fragmentation to Coherence: Enhancing Human Resource Capacity in Indonesian Law Reform for Effective Justice Delivery. Journal of Law and Legal Reform, 5(4), 2071–2092. https://doi.org/10.15294/jllr.v5i4.18924
  26. Jazilah. J., Ariesta. W., & Sukron, A. (2024). Analisis Yuridis Terhadap Sistem Proporsional Terbuka Bagi Calon Anggota DPRD Kabupaten/Kota. Yurijaya: Jurnal Ilmiah Hukum, 6(1), 74-85. https://doi.org/ 10.51213/yurijaya.v6i1.131
  27. Kristiyanto, H., Arinanto, S., & Ghafur, H. S. (2023). Institutionalization and Party Resilience in Indonesian Electoral Democracy. Heliyon, 9(12). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22919
  28. Mamonto, M. A. W. W., Radzi, M. S. N. B. M., Moenta, A. P., Ilmar, A., & Riza, M. (2024). Promoting the Principle of Political Equality: Reformulation of Private Funding Source Regulations for Indonesian Political Parties. Journal of Law and Legal Reform, 5(3), 1067–1128. https://doi.org/10.15294/jllr.v5i3.14457
  29. Mikola, B. & Santos, F. G. (2026). Opposition Electoral Strategies Against Democratic Backsliding: the United for Hungary Coalition and its 2022 Primaries. Democratization, 33(4),902–926. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2025.2522194
  30. Mobrand, E. (2019). On Parties’ Terms: Gender Quota Politics in South Korea’s Mixed Electoral System. Asian Studies Review, 43(1), 114–131. https://doi.org/10.1080/103 57823.2018.1512554
  31. Mone, E. W., Yohanes, S., & Udju, H. R. (2023) Problematika Sistem Pemilihan Proporsional Terbuka dan Tertutup dari Perspektif Prinsip Kedaulatan Rakyat. Jurnal Hukum Bisnis, 12(5),1-7. https://doi.org/10.47709/hukumbisnis.v12i05.3063
  32. Mvukiyehe, E., & Samii, C. (2017). Promoting Democracy in Fragile States: Field Experimental Evidence from Liberia. World Development, 95, 254–267. https://doi.org/10. 1016/j.worlddev.2017.02.014
  33. Rahim, E. I., Imran, H., Abdussamad, Z., & Piyo, S. (2025). Evaluasi Sistem Proporsional Terbuka Pemilu Legislatif Berdasarkan Teori Struktural Hukum Pemilu Issacharoff. Jurnal Hukum Ius Quia Iustum, 32(3), 734–761. https://doi.org/10.20885/iustum.vol32.iss3.art9
  34. Risky, S., Al-Fatih, S., & Azizah, M. (2023). Political Configuration of Electoral System Law in Indonesia from State Administration Perspective. Volksgeist; Jurnal Ilmu Hukum Dan Konstitusi, 6(1), 119–130. https://doi.org/10.24090/volksgeist.v6i1.7940
  35. Sa’adah, N. (2019). Persoalan Yang Tersisa Dalam Sistem Presidensiil Pasca Amandemen UUD 1945. Masalah-Masalah Hukum, 48(3), 275-282. https://doi.org/10.14710/mmh.48.3.2019.275-282
  36. Shomer, Y., Put, G.-J., & Gedalya-Lavy, E. (2016). Intra-Party Politics and Public Opinion: How Candidate Selection Processes Affect Citizens’ Satisfaction with Democracy. Political Behavior, 38(3), 509–534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11109-015-9324-6
  37. Syafei, M., & Darajati, M. R. (2020). Design of General Election in Indonesia. Law Reform, 16(1),97–111. https://doi.org/10.14710/lr.v16i1.30308
  38. Ufen, A. (2008). Political Party and Party System Institutionalization in Southeast Asia: Lessons for Democratic Consolidation in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. The Pacific Review, 21(3), 327-350. https://doi.org/10.1080/09512740802134174
  39. Van Ham, C., & Garnett, H. A. (2019). Building Impartial Electoral Management? Institutional Design, Independence, and Electoral Integrity. International Political Science Review, 40(3), 313–334. https://doi.org/10. 1177/0192512119834573
  40. Wartoyo, F. X., & Tungga, B. (2019). The Concept and Its Implementation of Indonesian Legislative Elections Based on the Pancasila Democracy Perspective. Yustisia, 8(1),109–118. https://doi.org/10.20961/yustisia.v8i1.13226
  41. Weinmann, P., & Grotz, F. (2022). Reconciling Parliamentary Size with Personalised Proportional Representation? Frontiers of Electoral Reform for the German Bundestag. German Politics, 31(4), 558–578. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644008.2020.1790531
  42. Castro, P. E. V. de. (2024). Electoral Systems and the Cost of Campaigns. University of São Paulo. https://doi.org/10.11606/T.8.2024.tde-14112024-133702
  43. Irawan, V. (2024). Pemilihan Umum Legislatif dalam Sistem Proporsional Terbuka dan Tertutup (Studi Putusan MK No. 114/PUU-XX/2022 terkait Uji Materil UU No. 7 Tahun 2017 tentang Pemilihan Umum). Universitas Sumatera Utara. https://repositori.usu.ac.id/ handle/123456789/103184
  44. Friedman, L. M. (1975). The Legal System: A Social Science Perspective. New York City: Russell Sage Foundation
  45. Radbruch, G. (1950). Legal Philosophy. (E. Patterson, Ed.; K. Wilk, Trans.). Cambridge: Harvard University Press
  46. Sukmajati, M., Satria, P., Ikhsandi, D. M. R., & Indonesia, A. B. P. E. N. (2025). Potret Dana Kampanye pada Kampanye Pileg (DPR RI) 2019–2024. Jakarta: Badan Pengawas Pemilihan Umum
  47. Ghaliya, G. (2019). Open-List Voting System “Needs Reform”. Retrieved from https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/06/26/open-list-voting-system-needs-reform.html
  48. Hapsoro, B. S. (2024). Muzani: Monitoring KIP Tingkatkan Kesadaran Informatif Parpol. Retrieved from https://rm.id/baca-berita/parpol/243419/muzani-monitoring-kip-tingkatkan-kesadaran-informatif-parpol
  49. Subarkah, T. (2024). Keterwakilan Perempuan di DPR RI Meningkat Tipis. Retrieved from https://mediaindonesia.com/ politik-dan-hukum/662065/keterwakilan-perempuan-di-dpr-ri-meningkat-tipis
  50. Media Indonesia. (2024). Bawaslu Harus Tuntaskan Laporan Politik Uang Pilkada 2024. Media Indonesia: 27 November 2024

Last update:

No citation recorded.

Last update: 2026-06-04 11:07:28

No citation recorded.