REFORMULATING THE FACTUAL VERIFICATION MECHANISM FOR THE EDUCATIONAL DOCUMENTS OF REGIONAL HEAD CANDIDATES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ELECTORAL INTEGRITY IN MALANG CITY
Keywords:
Diploma Verification, Regional Head Candidate, Election Administration, Election Integrity, Malang City General Election CommissionAbstract
In the process of nominating regional heads, every candidate is required to meet administrative criteria, including educational requirements evidenced by a diploma. To this end, the General Elections Commission (KPU) conducts an administrative review of the documents submitted by candidates. In certain instances, the KPU also performs a factual verification directly with educational institutions to confirm the authenticity of a candidate's educational documents. Such a practice occurs, for example, when the KPU verifies the diploma details of a university alumnus running for regional office by visiting the university to confirm the accuracy of the individual's academic records. This phenomenon demonstrates that the verification of educational documents is not merely an administrative task but can also involve factual verification in the field. This study aims to analyze the factual verification mechanism for educational documents—specifically university diplomas—carried out by the Malang City KPU during the regional head nomination process. The research focuses on several aspects: the reasons behind the KPU's factual verification of candidates' diplomas, the timing or stages of verification within the nomination process, and the verification methods employed by the KPU. The study also examines whether factual verification is applied to all candidates, performed only when irregularities are detected, or conducted on a sampling basis as part of the administrative oversight mechanism. An empirical legal research method with a qualitative approach is employed, utilizing interviews with election officials, a review of relevant laws and regulations, and an analysis of the KPU's practices regarding educational document verification. The findings are expected to provide an overview of the factual verification practices for university diplomas during the regional head nomination process and to explain the mechanisms used by the KPU to ensure the authenticity of candidates' educational documents. The targeted output of this research is the publication of a scientific article in a national journal accredited as SINTA 4. Furthermore, this research is expected to contribute to the development of electoral law studies and support the enhancement of research and scientific publication quality at Universitas Wisnuwardhana Malang.
Downloads
References
Feri Amsari, “Issues Regarding Candidacy Requirements for Regional Heads,” *Constitutional Journal* (Jurnal Konstitusi), Vol. 14 No. 1 (2017), p. 98.
Khairul Fahmi, “System for Handling Election-Related Criminal Offenses,” *Constitutional Journal* (Jurnal Konstitusi), Vol. 12, No. 2 (2015), p. 276.
Mohammad Mahfud MD, *Politics of Law in Indonesia* (Jakarta: Rajawali Pers, 2017), p. 325.
Pippa Norris, *Why Electoral Integrity Matters* (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014), p. 21.
Ridwan HR, *State Administrative Law* (Jakarta: Rajawali Pers, 2018), p. 132.
Suko W, Nuruddin H, Desinta DR, Wahyu H, Tikka DS, Rika N, Eko P, Shofiyatul A, “The Sanctions Imposed For Violating The Rules Of Regional Head Election In Malang Regency Indonesia,” PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology (2020).
Topo Santoso and Ida Budhiati, *Elections in Indonesia: Institutions, Implementation, and Oversight* (Jakarta: Sinar Grafika, 2019), p. 142.
Wahyu H, “The Role of Specialized Judicial Bodies for Regional Head Elections in Election Law Enforcement,” LEGAL BRIEF, Vol. 13 No. 2 (2024), pp. 620-628.
Wahyu H, Ismawati, Abdul H, Amelia AP, Hezron SRT, “Institutional Restructuring of Election and Regional Head Election (Pilkada) Organizers to Enhance Democratic Integrity in Indonesia,” Jurnal Magister Hukum Perspektif, Vol. 16 No. 2 (2026), pp. 170-186.
Wahyu H, Jamil, Mukhammad S, “Transformation of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) Election System to Strengthen Local Democracy,” Puskapsi Law Review, Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025), pp. 37-55.
Wahyu H, Mukhammad S, Sri AI, “Strengthening The Integrity Of Regional Head Candidates Through The Competence Test Mechanism In Regional Head Elections (Pilkada),” Morfai Jurnal, Vol. 6 No. 3 (2026), pp. 5055-5062.
Wahyu H, Wiwik U, Dian UI, Ika KW, Devita RS, “Successive Election Of Regional Heads: A Comparison Study Of The State Constitutions Of Majapahit, Indonesia, And The United States,” European Journal Of Social Sciences Studies, Volume 4 Issue 2 (2021), 59-70.
