The Dominance of Single Candidates and Its Implications for the Quality of Local Democracy: An Analysis of Competition, Political Participation, and the People's Freedom of Choice

Abstract

The 2024 Maros Regency Regional Head Election (Pilkada) presents a unique phenomenon of single-candidate dominance, raising critical concerns about the quality of local democracy. This study employs a qualitative phenomenological approach to examine the experiences and perceptions of political actors, voters, and civil society regarding the implications of single-candidate leadership. Field findings indicate that nearly all political parties in the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) supported the incumbent pair, effectively eliminating competition and reducing substantive political choice. Voter participation, particularly among young citizens, declined due to perceived predictability and limited alternatives, while the blank ballot option proved ineffective due to low political literacy. The dominance of a single candidate has contributed to structural depoliticization, weakened representative institutions, and eroded the checks and balances system, fostering political oligarchy and apathy. Analysis integrates theories of substantive democracy, political participation, and freedom of choice, revealing that elections function more as a formality than a mechanism for meaningful public engagement. The study recommends transformative reforms, including revitalizing political parties, strengthening community-based political education, reforming nomination systems, expanding public discourse forums, and enhancing institutional checks and balances. These measures aim to restore inclusive, deliberative, and substantive democratic practices in Maros, ensuring genuine representation, critical citizen participation, and accountable local governance.