The year 2020 was very challenging for electoral stakeholders and administrators Indonesia; direct local elections were held simultaneously in all regions of the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Compounding this challenge, the 2020 direct local elections were held on 9 December, which coincides with the peak period of the rainy season in Indonesia.

This case study elaborates experiences of local election officials and what they have prepared for the future, with a focus on two contrasting districts: Semarang City (capital of Central Java Province—which was not flooded on
election day itself) and to its east Demak, one of Indonesia’s most severely flood-affected regions.

Read more about other countries' case studies on The Impact of Natural Hazards on Elections page.