The Quality of Voter Participation in the 2024 Kupang City Regional Election A Case Study of Gen Z Voters and Elderly Voters

Pascaliani Estyka Lakabela; Laurensius P.  Sayrani; Rudi  Rohi

doi:10.38142/jtep.v6i1.1870

Authors

Pascaliani Estyka Lakabela Nusa Cendana University, Indonesia
Laurensius P. Sayrani Nusa Cendana University, Indonesia
Rudi Rohi Nusa Cendana University, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38142/jtep.v6i1.1870

Keywords:

Voter Participation, Election Quality, Generation Z, Elderly Voters

Abstract

Voter participation is a key indicator of democratic quality in regional elections. This study analyzes the quality of voter participation in the 2024 Kupang City Regional Election by focusing on two voter groups: Generation Z voters and elderly voters. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, this research explores the experiences, motivations, obstacles, and political behavior dynamics of both groups. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 14 informants, consisting of the Chairperson of the Kupang City General Elections Commission (KPU), KPU secretariat staff, six Gen Z voters, and six elderly voters, supported by documentation studies and official KPU data. The findings show that Gen Z voter participation is largely influenced by rational considerations and access to digital information; however, political awareness and consistent voter turnout remain relatively weak. In contrast, elderly voters demonstrate more stable participation driven by emotional attachment, life experience, and social proximity to candidates. Supporting factors include political education initiatives by the KPU, social media campaigns, and accessible election information. Meanwhile, inhibiting factors involve technical and administrative issues, such as reduced polling stations, negative political perceptions, voter fatigue due to closely timed elections, and the prevalence of transactional politics. This study concludes that voter participation quality in the 2024 Kupang City Regional Election still faces substantial challenges and requires more adaptive outreach strategies, improved election governance, and strengthened political literacy, particularly among younger voters.

References

Akbar, K. R., Saputra, F. A., & Alfarizy, M. S. (2025). Menurunnya partisipasi pemilih pada Pilkada 2024 Kabupaten Tulungagung di wilayah Desa Tiudan. Program Studi Administrasi Publik, Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, Universitas Tulungagung.

Arianto, B. (2011). Analisis penyebab masyarakat tidak memilih dalam pemilu. Jurnal Ilmu Politik dan Ilmu Pemerintahan, 1(1).

Budiardjo, M. (2012). Dasar-dasar ilmu politik. Prima Grafika.

Campbell, A., Converse, P. E., Miller, W. E., & Stokes, D. E. (1960). The American voter. Wiley.

Dalton, R. J., & Klingemann, H.-D. (2009). Political behavior. Oxford University Press.

Denhardt, J. V., & Denhardt, R. B. (2007). The new public service: Serving, not steering (Expanded ed.). M. E. Sharpe.

Downs, A. (1957). An economic theory of democracy. Harper & Row.

Dunn, W. N. (2018). Public policy analysis: An integrated approach (6th ed.). Routledge.

Febriantanto, P. (2019). Analisis faktor determinan peningkatan partisipasi politik penyandang disabilitas pada Pilkada Kota Yogyakarta 2017. Jurnal PolGov, 1(1).

Fuad, A. B. (2014). Political identity and election in Indonesian democracy: A case study in Karang Pandan Village – Malang, Indonesia. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 20, 477–485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2014.03.060

Hadi, P., & Agus. (2013). Konsep pemberdayaan, partisipasi dan kelembagaan dalam pembangunan. Jurnal.

Lipset, S. M. (1959). Some social requisites of democracy: Economic development and political legitimacy. American Political Science Review, 53(1), 69–105.

Lipsky, M. (1980). Street-level bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the individual in public services. Russell Sage Foundation.

Mas'oed, M. (2011). Perbandingan sistem politik. Gadjah Mada University Press.

Mayasari, E. O. (2019). Analisis strategi Komisi Pemilihan Umum (KPU) Provinsi Lampung dalam meningkatkan partisipasi politik pada pemilihan kepala daerah serentak tahun 2018 (Skripsi). Universitas Lampung.

Milbrath, L. (1965). Political participation: How and why do people get involved in politics. Rand McNally.

Milbrath, L., & Goel, M. (1977). Political participation (2nd ed.). Rand McNally.

Mozaffar, S., & Schedler, A. (2002). The comparative study of electoral governance—Introduction. International Political Science Review, 23(1), 5–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192512102023001001

Nur, Z. A. S. (2021). Partisipasi pemilih pada Pilkada serentak 2020 di masa pandemi Covid-19 (Studi di Kecamatan Sayung Kabupaten Demak) (Skripsi). Universitas Islam Negeri Walisongo Semarang.

Norris, P., & Van Es, A. A. (2016). Checkbook elections?: Political finance in comparative perspective. Oxford University Press.

Plano, J. C., Riggs, R. E., & Robin, H. (1985). Kamus analisis politik. Rajawali.

Ramadhani, dkk. (2025). Partisipasi politik masyarakat Purwakarta pada Pilkada 2024 dan pengaruhnya terhadap kualitas pemilu. UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung.

Rohi, R., Sayrani, L., & Pradana, I. P. Y. B. (2025). Evaluasi pemilihan kepala daerah serentak: Gubernur dan Wakil Gubernur Nusa Tenggara Timur 2024. Riset NTT.

Rush, M., & Althoff, P. (2008). Pengantar sosiologi politik. Rajawali Press.

Sahbana, S. (2017). Partisipasi masyarakat dalam pelaksanaan pemilihan umum. Jurnal Warta.

Scott, J. C. (1972). Patron-client politics and political change in Southeast Asia. The American Political Science Review, 66(1), 91–113.

Sugiyono. (2017). Metode penelitian kuantitatif, kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.

Sugiyono. (2018). Metode penelitian kuantitatif, kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.

Sugiyono. (2020). Metode penelitian kuantitatif, kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.

Syafhendry. (2016). Perilaku pemilih: Teori dan praktik. Alaf Riau.

Verba, S., & Nie, N. H. (1972). Participation in America: Political democracy and social equality. Harper & Row.

Yusran, I. I., & Sapar. (2022). Pengaruh media sosial dan perilaku pemilih dalam memprediksi partisipasi pemilih pada Pemilu 2024. Jurnal Darma Agung, 30(2).

Website Resmi KPU Kota Kupang

Komisi Pemilihan Umum Kota Kupang. (2024). Data Pilkada Kota Kupang 2024. https://kota-kupang.kpu.go.id/

Peraturan Perundang-undangan

Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 7 Tahun 2017 tentang Pemilihan Umum.

Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 8 Tahun 2016 tentang Penyandang Disabilitas.

Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 32 Tahun 2004 tentang Pemerintahan Daerah.

Peraturan Pemerintah

Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia Nomor 6 Tahun 2005 tentang Pemilihan, Pengesahan Pengangkatan, dan Pemberhentian Kepala Daerah dan Wakil Kepala Daerah.

Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia Nomor 17 Tahun 2005 tentang Perubahan Atas Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 6 Tahun 2005 tentang Pemilihan, Pengesahan Pengangkatan, dan Pemberhentian Kepala Daerah dan Wakil Kepala Daerah.

Perppu

Peraturan Pemerintah Pengganti Undang-Undang Nomor 3 Tahun 2005.

Buku Teori Politik Indonesia