Participatory Oversight to Safeguard Civil Servants’ Neutrality in Local Elections: The Case of Pekalongan Regency

Abstract

The neutrality of civil servants is a prerequisite for the integrity of local elections, yet field evidence indicates persistent risks of bureaucratic politicization and non-compliance with neutrality regulations. This study analyzes the implementation of participatory oversight aimed at preserving civil servants’ neutrality during the 2024 regional election in Pekalongan Regency, and identifies the key challenges, opportunities, and factors that influence its effectiveness. The principal activity examined is a “Participatory Oversight Socialization” convened by the Regional Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) of Pekalongan, which engaged heads of local government offices, subdistrict heads (camat), and other stakeholders as preventive actors. Findings indicate that participatory oversight characterized by public involvement, the utilization of digital tools (e.g., reporting applications), and cross-sector collaboration expands monitoring coverage and improves early detection of potential neutrality breaches. Despite constraints such as uneven political literacy, unequal access to technology, and coordination gaps, the study finds substantial scope to strengthen oversight through capacity building and the optimization of digital monitoring networks. This community-engaged intervention contributes to theoretical and practical understandings of participatory oversight mechanisms and offers policy recommendations for Bawaslu and regional governments to build a more effective, collaborative, and sustainable oversight ecosystem that upholds electoral integrity