Publication Search

This study is titled Analysis of the Incumbent's Defeat in the 2024 Regional Head Election in East Flores Regency (A Study of Antonius Hubertus Gege Hadjon's Defeat in East Adonara District), with the aim of analyzing the factors that led to the defeat of incumbent Antonius Hubertus Gege Hadjon in the 2024 Pilkada. This study uses Pierre Bourdieu’s political modality theory, including political, social, economic, and cultural capital. A qualitative approach with a descriptive method is employed, and data is collected through interviews with subjects consisting of the incumbent candidate, a religious leader, a youth leader, a community leader, two party representatives, and the success team. The study focuses on the support base in East Adonara District. The results of the study indicate that the incumbent's defeat was caused by the weakening of political capital, especially due to the vacancy in the regent’s position for two and a half years, which strengthened the opponent's position. This caused stagnation in public services and a decrease in the intensity of local government communication. In addition to these structural factors, weak internal party consolidation and public sentiment about uneven development also contributed to the defeat, indicating the incumbent's failure to manage his political capital amidst the dynamics of governance.

This study aims to analyze the political strategies used by the candidate pair for Regent and Vice Regent of Malaka, Stefanus Bria Seran and Hendri Melki Simu (SBS-HMS), in winning the 2024 Regional Head Election (Pilkada) in Malaka Regency. This research is based on the local political phenomenon in which the SBS-HMS pair successfully gained broad public support through effective political communication and political marketing approaches. The research method employed is descriptive qualitative, with data collected through interviews, observation, and documentation. Data analysis is carried out using Firmansyah’s (2012) Political Marketing Theory, which includes three main aspects: political segmentation, political targeting, and political positioning. The findings reveal that the political strategy of the SBS-HMS pair was implemented systematically through voter segmentation based on socioeconomic backgrounds such as farmers, fishermen, youth, and women. The main campaign target focused on grassroots communities with strong loyalty. Meanwhile, the political positioning of the SBS-HMS pair was built through an image of experienced leadership, closeness to the people, and a strong commitment to regional development in Malaka. The conclusion of this study is that the success of the SBS-HMS pair in the 2024 Malaka Pilkada cannot be separated from well-planned political and communication strategies, grounded in community needs, and strengthened by an emotional connection between the candidates and voters.

The 2024 regional elections in Jambi City sparked internal conflict within the Golkar Party when the recommendations of the Regional Representative Council II did not align with the Central Executive Board's decision regarding the mayoral candidate. The tension was successfully resolved through the implementation of procedural leadership based on the party's statutes and regulations, as well as a tiered nomination mechanism. This study aims to understand the role of procedural leadership in restoring solidarity and maintaining organizational stability after a nomination conflict. Using a qualitative approach with case studies, the study collected data through in-depth interviews and documentation with informants selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data analysis was conducted using the Miles & Huberman model through data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results show that procedural mechanisms, the use of surveys, and the exemplary behavior of charismatic figures particularly the chair of the DPD IIplay an important role in alleviating cadre disappointment. This study confirms that procedural leadership is a key instrument in maintaining the solidarity of the Golkar Party and recommends strengthening internal communication and balancing surveys with regional aspirations.

The emergence of a single candidate in the 2024 Batang hari Regional Election represents an interesting illustration of political party strategies in responding to local democratic dynamics. This study aims to analyze the formation of a grand political coalition through the seek efficiency perspective, referring to the concept of political efficiency proposed by(Pamungkas & Parlindungan, 2011). This research employs a qualitative descriptive approach, with data collected through interviews, documentation, and online media analysis. The findings reveal that the establishment of a grand coalition supporting the incumbent pair, Fadhil Arief and Bakhtiar, was primarily motivated by political efficiency considerations in utilizing resources such as time, energy, and cost. Cross-party cooperation was viewed as a strategic measure to enhance campaign effectiveness and strengthen electoral support. For core parties such as PPP and NasDem, this efficiency became more evident once the coalition operated with proper coordination and proportional role distribution. Overall, the study illustrates that coalition formation in Batang Hari reflects a form of rational political behavior oriented toward effectiveness and efficiency, as well as an effort to strengthen local democratic stability through productive political collaboration

This study examines the solidity of the National Mandate Party (PAN) in Merangin Regency during the 2024 Simultaneous Local Elections, which unfolded amid notable political dynamics and differing preferences between the party’s central and regional structures. Party solidity is analyzed using Firman Noor’s theory of party solidity, focusing on procedural leadership represented by two key indicators: decision-making mechanisms and the role of charismatic leadership. The study aims to understand how these indicators influence PAN Merangin’s organizational stability throughout the process of determining political support. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, documentation, and media reports, then analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model consisting of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that although PAN Merangin formally implemented decision-making procedures according to the party’s statutes (AD/ART), the practice remained dominated by top-down communication from the central board (DPP), limiting regional participation in strategic political decisions. Meanwhile, the charismatic leadership of the PAN Merangin Chairman played a crucial role in maintaining organizational cohesion, reducing internal tensions, and ensuring cadre loyalty to central decisions. These results suggest the need to strengthen two-way structural communication and enhance the capacity of local party leaders to reinforce party solidity in future political contests.

This study aims to analyze the political motives of the NasDem Party in endorsing Romi Hariyanto and Sudirman in the 2024 Jambi Provincial Election form the perspective of political idealism. The research focuses on two main aspect of idealistic incentives: the party’s political vision and the candidates’track records. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, documentation, and analysis of official party sources. The findings reveal that NasDem consistently implements its idealistic values through the vision “Movement for Change”, locally embodied as Restorasi Jambi. The Party’s decision to nominate Romi-Sudirman is based on the alignment between the party’s ideological principles and the candidates’ integrity and administrative experience. Romi Hariyanto demonstrates strong leadership as a two-term Regent of Tanjung Jabung Timur, while Sudirman possess notable social engagement and moral leadership. These findings suggest that NasDem integrates political idealism with electoral pragmatism as a strategy to reinforce its value-based political identity. The study concludes that idealism can function as a strategic asset in contemporary political practice.

This study aims to analyze the political marketing strategies employed by the candidate pair Lis Darmansyah and Raja Ariza in the 2024 Tanjungpinang Mayor Election. The research focuses on the implementation of the political marketing mix, which includes political products, promotion, pricing, and distribution strategies. The study uses a qualitative descriptive approach, with data collected through interviews, field observations, and documentation involving campaign teams, volunteers, and voters. The findings demonstrate that Lis Darmansyah and Raja Ariza's political marketing strategy primarily depends on social interaction and personal image creation through the use of social media platforms, in- person campaigns, and local volunteer networks. The secret to winning over voters is their attempt to present an image of inclusive and seasoned leadership. However, the public's opinion of previous political performance and fierce electoral competition present obstacles for the campaign. In conclusion, the capacity of candidates to gain the public's trust and modify their political messaging to fit the social and cultural dynamics of Tanjungpinang community is a major factor in the efficacy of political marketing techniques.

This study aims to analyze the role of the Election Supervisory Board (BAWASLU) in the implementation of the 2024 Regional Head Election (Pilkada) in Serang Regency, with a particular focus on the mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes during the election process. It also seeks to identify the types of electoral disputes and evaluate the effectiveness of BAWASLU in carrying out its supervisory and quasi-judicial functions at the local level. This research adopts a descriptive qualitative approach using a case study method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, direct field observations, and documentation analysis of official reports and BAWASLU decisions. The data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, involving data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. Data validity was ensured through triangulation and member checks. The findings reveal that BAWASLU Serang Regency plays a strategic role in safeguarding the integrity of the regional elections, yet it still faces challenges such as limited human resources, weak adjudication authority, and local political pressure. The disputes that occurred, including the case of the Repeat Voting (PSU), underscore the need for institutional reform. In conclusion, BAWASLU's role is crucial in electoral supervision and dispute resolution, but it requires strengthening in terms of regulations, institutional capacity, and public participation to ensure fair, democratic, and credible elections.

This study aims to analyze the winning strategy of the candidate pair Ratu Wulla and Angga Kaka in the 2024 Regional Head Election (Pilkada) of Sumba Barat Daya Regency. The main focus of this research is how the Ratu-Angga pair gained public support, particularly after Ratu Wulla's controversial decision to resign from her seat in the House of Representatives (DPR RI) to run for Regent. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation.The primary theoretical framework used is Adman Nursal’s 3P political marketing strategy, which includes Push Marketing, Pull Marketing, and Pass Marketing. The findings show that Push Marketing, through face-to-face campaigns and social activities, succeeded in building emotional ties with the community. Pull Marketing effectively utilized social media to reach younger voters. Meanwhile, Pass Marketing was carried out by involving traditional leaders, religious figures, women, and youth who hold strong influence in society. These three strategies were applied synergistically and proved effective in transforming negative public perception of Ratu Wulla resignation into significant political support.The victory of the Ratu-Angga pair, with 49.03% of the valid votes, indicates the success of an inclusive, adaptive, and locally responsive political communication strategy. This research contributes significantly to the understanding of voter behavior dynamics and campaign strategies in the context of local politics in Indonesia.

This study examines organizational communication within the General Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) of Pasuruan Regency in handling violations during the 2024 Regional Elections (Pilkada). Using a qualitative case study approach, data were obtained through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation involving Bawaslu members, technical staff, and the Integrated Law Enforcement Center (Gakkumdu). The results show that vertical and horizontal communication flows are generally effective in supporting internal coordination and violation handling, despite challenges such as limited human resources, high workloads, and inter-agency coordination gaps. To address these, Bawaslu strengthens internal meetings, leverages digital media, provides technical training, and enhances external collaboration and public outreach. The study concludes that effective organizational communication significantly improves election monitoring performance and offers insights for communication strategies in other supervisory bodies.To address these issues, Bawaslu has taken several proactive steps. These include strengthening internal meetings to improve coordination and decision-making, leveraging digital media for more efficient communication and reporting, providing technical training to staff to enhance their skills in violation detection and reporting, and fostering stronger collaboration with external agencies such as Gakkumdu for coordinated law enforcement. Additionally, Bawaslu has focused on improving public outreach through social media campaigns to increase awareness of the electoral process and violations. The study concludes that effective organizational communication significantly improves election monitoring performance and offers insights for communication strategies in other supervisory bodies. It recommends that other institutions facing similar challenges in managing complex, multi-agency processes adopt similar strategies to improve both internal and external communication for more efficient operations and outcomes.  

This study discusses the communication strategy implemented by the Karanganyar Police Public Relations Department in delivering an anti-hoax campaign during the 2024 Regional Head Election (Pilkada) through the Instagram platform. The background of this study departs from the phenomenon of the rampant spread of false information ahead of the election, which has the potential to trigger disinformation, polarization, and disrupt social order and stability. Hoaxes during political periods can erode public trust in state institutions, so strategic efforts are needed to address this through effective public communication. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of the digital communication strategy used by the Karanganyar Police Public Relations Department in increasing public literacy, encouraging public participation, and maintaining the quality and stability of information circulating in the digital space. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method with data collection techniques through in-depth interviews with Public Relations personnel, direct observation of campaign activities on Instagram, and documentation of published content. The strategy analysis refers to the Cutlip, Center, and Broom model which includes four stages: fact-collecting, planning, implementing communication actions, and evaluation. The results show that the use of Instagram was chosen because of its ability to reach a young audience, the flexibility of content formats, and opportunities for two-way interaction. The campaign content was dominated by educational materials presented visually through infographics, digital posters, and short videos, ensuring the anti-hoax message was clearly and persuasively conveyed and easily shared by users. Evaluations showed an increase in public engagement, including comments, content sharing, and participation in online discussions, as well as a significant decrease in the number of hoax reports circulating in the Karanganyar region during the campaign period. This study recommends optimizing the use of Instagram features such as live broadcasts, reels, and interactions through polls or quizzes, along with increasing the creativity of the Public Relations team to further enhance the effectiveness of digital public communication in the future.

This study examines the communication strategy employed by the Public Relations Division of Karanganyar Police in delivering an anti-hoax campaign during the 2024 regional election stages through Instagram. The background of this research lies in the widespread dissemination of misinformation leading up to elections, which can disrupt social order. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of digital communication strategies in increasing public literacy and maintaining the stability of public information. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection techniques including interviews, observations, and documentation. The results show that the communication strategy was implemented systematically through the four stages of the Cutlip, Center, and Broom model: fact-finding, planning, action and communication, and evaluation. Instagram was chosen for its ability to reach a younger audience and enable two-way interactions. Educational content presented in visual formats such as infographics and posters proved effective in delivering anti-hoax messages clearly and persuasively. The evaluation showed increased public engagement and a decline in the spread of hoaxes. This study suggests optimizing Instagram features and enhancing the creativity of the PR team to improve the effectiveness of future digital public communication.

This study explains the POLITICAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGY OF THE CHRISTIAN WIDODO – SERENA FRANCIS PAIR IN THE MAYORAL ELECTION OF KUPANG IN THE 2024 REGIONAL ELECTION. This study aims to determine the political strategy of the Christian Widodo – Serena Francis pair to win the 2024 regional election in Maulafa sub-district. The approach in this study is Qualitative. The results of the study show that the candidate pair for Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Kupang, dr. Christian Widodo and Serena Francis (CS'an), led the vote count in the 2024-2029 Kupang City Regional Head Election (Pilkada). Based on the provisional results of the C1 Plano tabulation recapitulation conducted by the CS-an Center, which was collected from 552 Polling Stations (TPS), this pair won 36.29% of the vote or 68,853 votes, significantly ahead of their closest competitor, Jefri-Adinda, who won 26.4% of the vote or 50,192 votes. CS'an dominated in five of the six sub-districts in Kupang City, namely Kota Lama, Kelapa Lima, Maulafa, and Oebobo. It can be concluded that Christian Widodo and Serena Francis' political strategies show consistency in building narratives that are relevant to the needs of the community, especially in the areas of local economic empowerment and public service reform. They optimize social media and digital communication to reach young voters, strengthen public engagement, and shape their image as adaptive and modern leaders. Both build strategic coalitions with civil society groups and youth organizations that expand their electoral reach, especially in urban and semi-urban areas. Serena Francis specifically raises the issue of women's representation and political inclusivity, which has succeeded in attracting the attention of women and marginalized groups.

The principle of popular sovereignty is a fundamental foundation of the Indonesian democratic system, as stated in Article 1, Paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution. Popular sovereignty emphasizes the importance of the people's right to choose and be chosen in general elections (Pemilu) and regional elections (Pilkada), which serve as the source of legitimacy for a legitimate government. This sovereignty should reflect democratic values that are just and equal. However, in practice, the implementation of popular sovereignty through elections is often tarnished by money politics, which threatens the integrity of democracy itself. This phenomenon indicates a profound distortion of democratic principles, where the election process is more driven by material interests than by political aspirations and ideologies. Money politics not only undermines the quality of elections but also diminishes public trust in the democratic process. This practice allows voters to sell their votes in exchange for money or goods, leading to electoral injustice. It transforms general elections and regional elections from an ideal democratic process into a contest reliant on financial resources, rather than on the quality of the leaders chosen. This article aims to analyze the contradiction between the constitutional ideal of popular sovereignty and the reality of money politics in the administration of general elections and regional elections. This study employs a normative juridical approach with qualitative analysis techniques to explore how current laws have guaranteed the implementation of popular sovereignty. The findings indicate that although the legal framework provides protection for the principle of popular sovereignty, weak law enforcement and the persistent transactional political culture hinder its substantial realization. As a solution, this article recommends several strategic steps, including strengthening regulations to limit money politics, reforming the party system to reduce the dominance of practical politics, and enhancing political education based on democratic values and integrity. With these measures, the principle of popular sovereignty can be more purely and consistently upheld, ultimately strengthening Indonesia’s democratic system to be fair and sustainable.

Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) are democratic processes conducted to elect Governors and Deputy Governors, Regents and Deputy Regents, as well as Mayors and Deputy Mayors. The General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) is the authorized institution responsible for overseeing the implementation of elections, including their various stages. Campaigning is an integral component of the election process, during which candidates utilize campaign props (Alat Peraga Kampanye/APK) to promote themselves to the public. In Lebak Regency, numerous violations have occurred regarding the installation of such props, underscoring the critical role of Bawaslu Lebak in ensuring compliance. This study aims to examine the authority exercised by Bawaslu Lebak Regency in supervising the installation of campaign props during the 2024 regional elections and to identify the challenges encountered. The research employs the theory of authority and the theory of supervision, using an empirical juridical approach and an analytical descriptive specification. Primary data supported by secondary data were obtained through interviews and document analysis. The findings indicate that Bawaslu Lebak Regency implements both preventive and repressive supervisory measures. Preventive efforts include issuing advisories, conducting public outreach, and inter-agency collaboration, while repressive actions involve processing reports and findings of violations, as well as dismantling noncompliant campaign materials. The agency faces several obstacles, including low awareness among candidates and campaign teams regarding legal compliance, limited personnel for enforcement activities, resistance from various stakeholders, and the environmental issue of accumulated campaign waste.

ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peran media sosial instagram dalam meningkatkan partisipasi remaja pada pilkada serta untuk mengetahui kendala, faktor pendukung, dan langkah-langkah dalam partisipasi politik generasi muda. Menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif, penelitian ini melibatkan wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi sebagai teknik pengumpulan data. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa peran media sosial Instagram sangat penting dalam penyebaran informasi terkait pilkada. Selain itu, paslon pilkada juga berkolaborasi secara langsung dengan generasi muda untuk menyajikan konten Instagram yang kreatif dan menarik. Kata Kunci : Media Sosial Instagram, Partisipasi Remaja, Pemilihan Umum Kepala Daerah   ABSTRACT This study aims to determine the role of instagram social media in increasing youth participation in regional elections and to determine the obstacles, supporting factors, and steps in the political participation of the younger generation. Using qualitative descriptive methods, this study involved interviews, observations, and documentation as data collection techniques. The results of the study indicate that the role of Instagram social media is very important in disseminating information related to regional elections. In addition, regional election candidates also collaborate directly with the younger generation to present creative and interesting Instagram content. Keywords: Instagram Social Media, Youth Participation, Regional Head Elections

The Constitutional Court (MK) Decision Number 55/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 is an important precedent in the dynamics of regional head election law in Indonesia. The Constitutional Court canceled the participation of the North Gorontalo Regent candidate pair because one of the candidates was still undergoing a criminal probation period. This article analyzes the Constitutional Court's legal considerations and their implications for the principle of legal certainty and protection of voters' constitutional rights. This study uses a normative legal approach with a descriptive-qualitative analysis method of laws and regulations and Supreme Court decisions. The results show that the enforcement of strict nomination requirements by the Constitutional Court emphasizes the importance of compliance with the law in the democratic process, while ensuring that regional head candidates have proper moral and legal integrity, this decision also emphasizes that the election process is not only procedural, but also substantial in ensuring the quality of leadership that will be elected. In addition, this decision provides guidelines for election organizers, especially the General Election Commission (KPU), to be more careful in conducting factual verification of candidate requirements. On the other hand, political parties are encouraged to be more selective in nominating candidates, in order to avoid potential legal disputes that could harm public trust in democracy.

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the e-Coklit application in supporting the accuracy of voter data in the 2024 Regional Head Election (Pilkada) in Pasirnagara Village, Pamarican Subdistrict, Ciamis Regency. The research method used is a descriptive qualitative approach with data collected through interviews, observation, and documentation. The study adopts Campbell J. P.’s effectiveness theory, which includes five dimensions: program success, target achievement, program satisfaction, input-output ratio, and overall goal accomplishment. The results indicate that the e-Coklit application is effective in improving voter data accuracy, accelerating the data verification process, and facilitating field officers’ tasks. Despite technical obstacles such as limited internet connectivity and insufficient training, most officers managed to perform well. The e-Coklit application has positively impacted the reduction of duplicate voter records and manual input errors. Therefore, the implementation of e-Coklit supports the achievement of accurate voter data and contributes to strengthening the quality of local democratic processes.

Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) are crucial for upholding popular sovereignty and realizing democracy. This research aimed to examine the level of political participation among voters with disabilities and the factors contributing to their low engagement in the 2024 Pilkada in Baregbeg District. The research method used was qualitative with a descriptive approach, involving field studies, literature reviews, and data analysis. The results showed that while the 2024 Pilkada in Baregbeg District, Ciamis Regency, was successfully executed, the participation of voters with disabilities was very low, at only 29.93% of the 294 registered voters. This low participation was caused by external micro factors such as non-inclusive socialization (lack of assistive tools), suboptimal voter education, budget limitations, ineffective 'jemput bola' mechanisms, insufficient family support, unfriendly polling station locations, and minimal initiatives from stakeholders and disability organizations. Additionally, internal macro factors of disabled individuals also played a role, including communication limitations (for those with hearing, visual, speech, and intellectual impairments), differences in information access and mobility, varying levels of understanding, low organizational awareness, and limited scope of movement and social interaction. The socialization efforts already undertaken have not been able to significantly increase participation, indicating the need for a more comprehensive and inclusive approach.

This research is a qualitative descriptive study aimed at understanding and analyzing the performance of the Secretariat employees at the Ambon City General Election Commission (KPU) in 2024. The study was conducted at the Ambon City KPU. The data collection techniques used were observation, interviews, and documentation with a total of 10 informants who were considered directly involved in the role of the Secretariat employees’ performance in organizing the local election. The results of this study indicate that the performance of administrative services is not yet optimal or has not been implemented properly. This can be seen from the research findings regarding service standards, which include several indicators: service procedures, completion time, facilities and infrastructure, and the competence of service officers. The study concludes that improvements are needed in discipline, knowledge, skills, and expertise of the officers so that the service process can be carried out effectively.