Low Political Mobilization Causes High Undecided Voters In The 2024 Central Java Gubernatorial Election

Photo Certificate: The Andika-Hendi and Luthfi-Yasin pair must compete for the undecided voters in the 2024 Central Java gubernatorial election. (Ist)

JAKARTA Charta Politica researcher, Ardha Ranadireksa said that the low political mobilization of each candidate pair was the cause of the high number of gamang voters or unfair voters in the 2024 Central Java (Central Java) Pilgub.

Undecided voters or gamang voters are voters who have not made their choice until the D day of the 2024 Pilkada. According to Ardha, apart from the low political mobilization, where the campaign team and political party machines have not been working optimally to promote candidates, the high number of gamang voters is because voters do not fully recognize the two candidate pairs, Andika Perkasa-Hendrar Prihadi and Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin Maimoen.

He revealed that prior to the issuance of the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which cut the nomination requirements, only Luthfi's name was circulated as a candidate for governor. "But after the decision was issued, Andika Perkasa's name began to appear. Unfortunately, the socialization from Andika-Hendi was not as strong as that of Luthfi. So, this makes voters still confused," said Ardha, Sunday, November 17, 2024.

"Political mobilization is also not maximal because PDIP is focused on maintaining their homes there, on the other hand, the coalition supporting Lutfi-Yasin is still trapped in the political dichotomy which has made the party engine not move significantly," he continued.

Ardha assessed that both Andika-Hendi and Luthfi-Yasin have the opportunity to attract gamang voters. One of the most effective steps is to go directly to the community and intensify the socialization of their programs if they take office later.

"In addition to going directly to the community, socialization must be carried out in various media to reach gamang voters," he added.

Previously, the Kompas Research and Development survey showed that the number of gamang voters or unfair voters in the Central Java gubernatorial election reached 43.1 percent. Meanwhile, the electability figures of each candidate pair, namely Andika Perkasa-Hendrar Prihadi, won 28.8 percent and Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin Maimoen at 28.1 percent.