PORTALJABAR, CIAMIS REGENCY - The 2026 Simultaneous Village Head Elections (Pilkades) in Ciamis Regency will bring major changes to its implementation. For the first time, the Pilkades voting process in Ciamis Regency will be conducted electronically or digitally.

This was conveyed by the Regent of Ciamis, Herdiat Sunarya, when opening the Coordination Meeting (Rakor) in the context of the Socialization of the Simultaneous Village Head Elections in Ciamis Regency in 2026 which took place at the Ciamis Regency Secretariat Hall, Thursday (20/8/2026).

The change in method is an effort by the Ciamis Regency Government to provide a more effective, efficient and transparent village head election process, while also adapting the implementation of the Village Head Election to technological developments.

"This year's village head elections are different from previous years. This has been implemented in other regencies and cities, but in Ciamis, this is a new development because it's being implemented digitally," said Regent Herdiat.

According to him, implementing a digital system offers several advantages, particularly in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency in the election process. However, the government is also aware of the challenges it poses, particularly for those unfamiliar with digital technology.

"There are certainly pros and cons. While it's more effective, efficient, and transparent, not everyone, especially older people, is digitally savvy," he said.

The Regent believes this situation requires collective attention. The local government, along with all relevant parties, must strengthen outreach and education so that all members of the public, including the elderly, understand the electronic voting procedures.

"The reality on the ground is that the majority of elderly people are still technologically illiterate. This is certainly a drawback in implementing digitalization methods, so more public education is needed," he stressed.

He hopes the change in method won't actually reduce public participation. Instead, he hopes all voters will exercise their right to vote effectively after understanding the digital voting mechanism.

"I hope the percentage of village head elections (Pilkada) can increase. We certainly have concerns that a lack of understanding of digital methods will lead to people being reluctant or unwilling to participate in the Pilkades," said the Regent.

In practice, voters will no longer use the conventional voting mechanism as in previous village head elections. Each polling station (TPS) will be equipped with electronic devices that residents can use to vote for their chosen village head candidate.

As part of its preparations, the Ciamis Regency Government will conduct a digital election simulation. The simulation is expected to provide the public with a first-hand understanding of the stages and procedures for using electronic devices on Election Day.

This step is also an important part of ensuring the readiness of organizers and voters before the simultaneous village head elections are held.

The 2026 Simultaneous Village Head Elections in Ciamis Regency will be participated in by 40 villages.

The regent explained that 39 villages will hold village head elections because the term of office of their village heads ends on December 26, 2026. Meanwhile, one other village from Panumbangan District did not successfully hold village head elections in 2022, so it was included in the 2026 implementation.

Thus, the regional government ensures that all stages of village head election preparation must be carried out thoroughly, starting from regulations, readiness of organizers, facilities and infrastructure, to public understanding as voters.

The implementation of the digital Village Head Election has a legal basis in the form of Government Regulation Number 16 of 2026 concerning the Implementing Regulations of the Law
Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages, which regulates the implementation of Village Head Elections.

Regent Herdiat did not deny that holding simultaneous village head elections amidst limited village finances was a challenge in itself.

However, the local government considers the existence of village heads to have a very strategic role in the implementation of government and development at the village level.

"The current financial situation of the village is certainly challenging. However, the leadership of the village head is vital. Therefore, the local government will continue to hold simultaneous village head elections, despite the limitations," he explained.

As a form of support, the Ciamis Regency Government has prepared a budget of around IDR 1.4 billion through the Regional Budget (APBD) to support the implementation of the 2026 Simultaneous Village Head Elections.

The budget is allocated to, among other things, meet the needs for TPS equipment and honorariums in villages holding elections.

"In the revised regional budget, God willing, the finalization will begin this month or next. We have budgeted Rp 1.4 billion for the simultaneous village head elections, with details to cover the needs for polling station equipment and honorariums in each village holding elections," the Regent concluded.

By implementing the Village Head Election (Pilkada) using a digital system, the Ciamis Regency Government hopes that the democratic process at the village level can be more effective, efficient, transparent and accountable, without reducing the community's right to determine their village leaders.

Therefore, the success of the 2026 Simultaneous Village Head Elections (Pilkada Serentak) will not only depend on technological readiness, but also on the readiness of the community as voters. Education and simulations are key to ensuring that the digital transformation in the Ciamis Pilkades is understood and participated in by all levels of society.

(Ciamis Communications and Information Service/rka)