"Bawaslu Go to Campus": Banda Aceh Bawaslu Encourages Students to Become Participatory Supervisors for an Election with Integrity
The Banda Aceh City Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) continues to encourage youth involvement in safeguarding democracy through participatory supervision. This effort was realized through Bawaslu Banda Aceh's participation in the "Bawaslu Go to Campus" event organized by the Computer Science Study Program at Bina Bangsa Getsempena University (UBBG) Banda Aceh (Indonesia) on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Held at Bina Bangsa Getsempena University, the event carried the theme "The Role of Students in Participatory Supervision to Realize a Democratic Election with Integrity" and was attended by students from UBBG’s Faculty of Science, Technology, and Health Sciences.
Bawaslu Banda Aceh was represented by Commissioners Ambia Dianda and Zahrul Fadhi, accompanied by Secretariat Coordinator Abdullah and Bawaslu staff members.
The event served not only as a platform for raising awareness about elections but also as an opportunity to foster the understanding among students that election supervision is a shared responsibility.
As an intellectual group and the younger generation, students are considered to hold a strategic position in spreading democratic literacy and helping to prevent violations at every stage of the election process.
In his presentation, Ambia Dianda explained the importance of elections in a democratic society and how students can play a part in safeguarding the democratic process.
He emphasized that election supervision is not solely the duty of Bawaslu. The public—including students—has the opportunity to participate by monitoring election stages, understanding the regulations, and reporting information if they encounter suspected violations.
According to him, student involvement must be built upon a solid understanding of the election process. With this knowledge, students are expected to go beyond merely exercising their right to vote; they should also become active members of society who help uphold the quality of democracy. “University students play a vital role in fostering a healthy democratic culture. Participatory oversight is a tangible example of how the public can help ensure elections proceed in accordance with regulations and democratic principles,” Ambia stated during the event.
Meanwhile, Zahrul Fadhi presented on the topic of participatory oversight and the importance of public involvement in preventing potential election violations.
He emphasized that participatory oversight can begin with simple actions, such as paying closer attention to one’s local community, understanding election-related information, resisting misinformation, and having the courage to report suspected violations through established channels.
According to Zahrul, students—being a generation closely connected to technology and social media—have a significant opportunity to act as agents of democratic literacy. However, the digital space must be used wisely by ensuring that the information shared is accurate, non-misleading, and does not incite conflict.
“Participatory oversight is not merely about detecting violations; it is also about fostering a shared sense of responsibility so that potential violations can be prevented from the outset. Students can play a crucial part in this effort,” he said.
Through the “Bawaslu Go to Campus” initiative, the Banda Aceh City Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) hopes that students will gain a deeper understanding of their rights and responsibilities as citizens within a democracy.
University campuses are considered strategic environments for cultivating a democratic culture, as students act not only as voters but also as drivers of election literacy within the wider community.
Bawaslu Banda Aceh also encourages the growth of a spirit of participatory oversight among the younger generation. As more citizens understand the electoral process and actively engage in oversight, the democratic process is expected to become more transparent, democratic, and grounded in integrity.
This event is part of Bawaslu Banda Aceh’s broader effort to expand election education and foster collaboration with the academic community, aiming to create a public that is both aware of and actively engaged in safeguarding democracy.[]
