Ahead Of The 2024 General Election, Observers Remind The Importance Of Z Generation Political Awareness

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - West Sumatra Andalas University political observer Prof. Asrinaldi reminded the importance of political awareness education for the younger generation, especially generation Z (born from 1997) to encourage the participation of novice voters in the 2024 election.

Asrinaldi said that political education is not only the task of the General Election Commission (KPU) as an election organizer, but is the task of many parties in the education sector, including political parties and non-governmental organizations.

"In Law Number 7 of 2017, the KPU or organizers already have their functions, duties and authorities. The task of the KPU is to organize stages, the last until the dissemination of information," said Asrinaldi, quoted from Antara, Saturday, August 5.

Based on 2019 Political Statistics data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), voter participation in the 2019 Election reached 158.01 million voters or 81.97 percent. Meanwhile, for Gen Z voters who were born in 1997 to 2012, there were 46.8 million voters or 22.85 percent based on KPU data.

Asrinaldi assessed that Generation Z digests information more quickly, is able to optimize internet functions and is sensitive to technological advances. Therefore, it is necessary to get political awareness education so that their ability can be maximized to build a good democratic climate in the future.

"Now the problem is whether they (generation Z) are guided in that positive direction. So that he is encouraged and motivated to be political aware," said Asrinaldi.

Gen Z's ability on social media and the internet can also be directed positively. For example, to get to know the candidates for people's representatives in the 2024 election by looking at their actions in various cyber media reports.

He also suggested that the KPU should always target the younger generation in every socialization of the election stages in the hope of increasing the participation rate of novice voters.

"For example, don't choose a corrupt candidate, a legislative candidate who has a sexual crime, this one, the domestic violence," said Asrinaldi.

The Indonesian KPU commissioner and Deputy Chair of the Socialization, Education for Voters and Community Participation Division, Betty Epsilon Idroos explained, his party has implemented a number of voter education programs targeting young people, such as face-to-face election introductions to SLTA students.

The program, said Betty, also includes the socialization and education of voters with working partners with the initial voters, videos of the socialization of novice voters, video competitions and election carnivals.

"It will run in August, 'KPU goes to campus', SLTA and pesantren," Betty said when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta, Saturday.

Voters can also take advantage of the neutral movement of society to help voters get to know the program, stages and importance of exercising voting rights in elections. For example, the Wise Choice movement initiated by "What is Up, Indonesia?" with Think Policy.

One of the founders of the Wise Voting movement, Abigail Limuria said, her party collected relevant data and was easily digested by novice voters so that Gen Z could exercise its voting rights based on data.

"So we collect relevant data, we 'present' in an easy format to 'digest' (exceeded). Then apart from the website, we have an 'online' campaign, 'roadshow' is also 'offline' so that with the aim of young voters can choose based on data," said Abigail.

Abigail explained, through this program, voters can see the track records and priority agendas carried by potential representatives of the people.

"For example, corruption issues can be seen from the KPK Law. So we explain it, so they are 'voting' for example the KPK Bill or for example the Criminal Code Bill," he said.

"Things like that, how about 'voting history' (voting history) so that it can be seen, oh which party is more 'aligned' (aligned) by my choice based on the issue," said Abigail.

However, Abigail advised stakeholders to keep trying to invite young voters, including generation Z, to participate in the 2024 General Election, by improving communication between related parties and young voters.

Of course, there have been many "efforts" (entrepreneurs) from the KPU, Bawaslu, which actually involve young people. But maybe the method is still not getting into their style of language.

"So the impression is like 'outdated' (basi) and irrelevant. Maybe it can be updated (renewed) as well as how to embrace them so that they can connect more with their languages," Abigail explained.