Sumedang implements digital village head elections

Sumedang Regency has successfully implemented simultaneous digital village head elections (Pilkades) across 92 villages. The process, which took place on October 28, 2026, involved approximately 270,000 voters using tablets at 423 polling stations. The digital system allowed for rapid results, with counting completed within hours rather than lasting until late at night.

Sumedang Regent Dony Ahmad Munir stated that the digital transformation aims to ensure government decisions are based on accurate, integrated data rather than assumptions. The initiative, which originated from a concept by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, was highlighted during the Bandung Digital Safety Forum (BDSF) 2026.

While the implementation was reported as smooth, officials noted challenges regarding digital literacy, particularly among elderly voters. There are also ongoing discussions regarding the transparency of digital processes compared to conventional paper ballots, specifically concerning how witnesses can verify the integrity of the software and the data between the voter's input and the final displayed result.