Journal of Politics and Democracy
Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Politics and Democracy (September)

Inklusivitas Pemilu dan Pemenuhan Hak Politik Penyandang Disabilitas di Sumatera Utara

Frendianus Joni Rahmat Zebua (Komisioner Komisi Pemilihan Umum Provinsi Sumatera Utara)



Article Info

Publish Date
03 Sep 2026

Abstract

Electoral inclusion depends not only on the legal recognition of the political rights of persons with disabilities but also on the capacity of election management bodies to translate those guarantees into accessible electoral services. This article examines the inclusiveness of the 2024 North Sumatra gubernatorial election by connecting the legal framework, disaggregated voter data, voter turnout, and service requirements across disability categories and geographical areas. The study employs qualitative policy analysis supported by a descriptive analysis of administrative data from the General Election Commission covering 32,245 registered voters with disabilities across 33 regencies and cities. It also draws on legislation, institutional documents, election monitoring reports, and relevant academic studies. The analysis shows that the existing legal framework covers voter registration, polling-station accessibility, assistance, voting aids, ballot secrecy, and participation throughout the electoral process. However, variations across disability categories and geographical areas indicate that electoral services cannot be planned uniformly. Voters with physical disabilities constitute the largest group, accounting for 13,160 voters or 40.81 percent, followed by voters with mental disabilities at 6,106 or 18.94 percent. The recorded turnout of 49.09 percent indicates that administrative registration did not fully translate into electoral participation, although this figure alone does not establish the existence or causes of accessibility barriers. The article concludes that substantive inclusion requires the use of disaggregated data in service planning, verification of needs at the polling-station level, accessible information and reasonable accommodation, improved staff capacity, and monitoring and complaint mechanisms available throughout the electoral process.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

polikrasi

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

Journal of Politics and Democracy is an open access and peer-reviewed journal. Our main goal is to disseminate current and original articles from researchers and practitioners on a variety of contemporary social issues: politics and gender identity, digital society and disruption, civil society ...