Gianyar holds simultaneous village head elections across 26 villages

Gianyar, Bali — A simultaneous election for village heads was held across Gianyar regency on Sunday, with more than 145,000 registered voters invited to cast their ballots at hundreds of polling stations.

According to the Gianyar government’s Community and Village Empowerment Office (DPMD), the 2026 simultaneous Pemilihan Perbekel (Pilkel) involved 26 villages, with voting organised at 322 polling stations and a total of 145,727 people on the final voter list. Local media reported that the election day itself proceeded in an orderly and peaceful manner, with authorities describing the village-level polls as generally safe and conducive.

The vote on 20 September followed months of preparation and campaigning at village level. The Gianyar administration had earlier set the Pilkel timetable, with stages beginning in May and the simultaneous voting day scheduled for 20 September 2026. Campaign activities, including public presentations of candidates’ vision and mission in villages such as Siangan, took place through August and early September as part of the formal election calendar.

In total, 61 candidates ran for village head across the 26 participating villages. The Gianyar regent, I Made Agus Mahayastra, highlighted this figure when he addressed a pre-election peace declaration, where candidates committed to a democratic and peaceful contest ahead of the simultaneous vote.

Security agencies deployed extra personnel to support the polls. Gianyar police assigned around 300 officers to safeguard voting and counting at the 322 polling stations, focusing on maintaining public order throughout election day. Police and local election supervisors had already intensified patrols and monitoring during the official quiet period from 14 to 17 September, aimed at deterring potential election violations or disturbances.

Election supervisors from Bawaslu Gianyar warned in advance that gaps in the schedule just before voting day could be vulnerable to money politics, and they stepped up direct monitoring in villages to discourage irregularities. The regency election commission (KPU Gianyar) also provided technical assistance to village-level committees to help ensure procedures ran smoothly during registration, campaigning and voting.

Preliminary tallies indicated competitive races in many villages. According to local reports, the regency government conducted a quick count based on data submitted from polling stations, showing that in five villages where only one candidate stood, the sole contenders were ahead of the “empty box” option used when there is no rival candidate. In several other villages, incumbents were defeated by challengers, underscoring the significance of the contest for local leadership.

Officials and community leaders in Gianyar have framed the 2026 Pilkel as a key moment for grassroots democracy, with the outcome shaping village governance across the regency for the coming years. The full official results are being compiled from all polling stations before final confirmation by the relevant village election committees and local authorities.

Sources

• Bali Post – Pilkel Serentak Gianyar, 145 Ribu Pemilih Gunakan Hak Suara
• Tribun Bali – Daftar Pemenang Pilkel di Gianyar Bali, Semua Kotak Kosong Tumbang
• Detik Bali – 61 Calon Perbekel di Gianyar Deklarasikan Pilkel Damai dan Demokratis