SEMARANG – The General Elections Commission (KPU) of Central Java Province, in collaboration with the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), held Book Review Series 2 entitled “From Votes to Seats: Examining the Vote Recapitulation Process” on Wednesday (17/9/2026). The event began at 9:00 a.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) and was held in a hybrid format at the 3rd Floor Hall of Building C1, FISIP UNNES, as well as via Zoom Meeting, which was attended by representatives of KPU offices from regencies/cities across Central Java.
The event featured the book Elections, Political Parties and Parliament by Dr. Martien Herna Susanti, S.Sos., M.Si. and Ruhadi, S.Pd., M.Pd., M.Sos. The book review series served as an academic forum for discussing electoral systems, the vote recapitulation process, the conversion of votes into parliamentary seats, and various issues concerning political representation.
The event began with remarks from the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs of FISIP UNNES, Dr.scient.med. Fadly Husain, S.Sos., M.Si. He expressed his appreciation to the KPU of Central Java Province for organizing the event and providing a space for students to gain new knowledge and insights into elections.
The event was then officially opened by the Chairperson of the KPU of Central Java Province. In his remarks, he highlighted the efforts of the Central Java KPU to develop informed and qualified voters, one of which is carried out through collaboration with higher education institutions. Collaboration with universities is considered an important means of expanding electoral knowledge among students, both as prospective voters and young voters.
The discussion was moderated by the Head of the Technical Subdivision for Election Administration of the KPU of Central Java Province, Yudho Wahyanto, S.Sos., M.I.Pol. As the main speaker, Dr. Martien Herna Susanti, S.Sos., M.Si., the author of the book and Coordinator of the Political Science Study Program at FISIP UNNES, presented an overview of electoral systems in various countries, including Indonesia. She discussed elections as an important element of democracy and how electoral systems shape the process of political representation.
The discussion was continued by Siti Muslikhatul Ummah, a lecturer in the Political Science Study Program at FISIP UNNES, who highlighted the importance of inclusive elections. One of the issues discussed was the role of the KPU in ensuring that the electoral process is more accessible, inclusive, and disability-friendly.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Machruz, Head of the Technical Division for Election Administration of the KPU of Central Java Province, provided a detailed explanation of the process of converting votes into parliamentary seats, particularly in the context of election administration in Central Java. His explanation provided an overview of the technical stages connecting the votes obtained by election participants with the allocation of seats in representative institutions.
The discussion was interactive, involving both lecturers and students. Bambang Hermanto, S.Pd., M.IP., a lecturer in Political Science at FISIP UNNES, also raised the issue of the parliamentary threshold and its impact on valid votes that are not converted into parliamentary seats. This issue became part of the discussion concerning the relationship between electoral systems, political representation, and the effectiveness of voters’ ballots.
Students also actively participated by raising questions. Praventyo, a third-semester student in the Political Science Study Program at UNNES, raised a question regarding affirmative action for female legislative candidates and questioned the extent to which such policies can promote substantive representation of women rather than merely fulfill formal requirements.
The implementation of the Book Review Series is connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event provided a space for dialogue on elections, representation, and political participation. In addition, it served as a forum for strengthening political literacy and students’ understanding of democratic processes. Collaboration between election management institutions and higher education institutions brings together practical perspectives on election administration with academic and educational perspectives. Through this event, FISIP UNNES and the Central Java KPU not only provided a forum for book discussion but also created a space for interaction among election administrators, academics, and students. Discussions on electoral systems, accessibility, the conversion of votes into seats, the parliamentary threshold, and women’s representation demonstrate that the quality of democracy is also related to public understanding of electoral mechanisms and their participation in democratic processes.
