JGSRD: Journal of Government Science and Rural Development Volume 1, Nomor 1, Maret 2020 Website: https://ojs.unigal.ac.id/index.php/JGSRD

OPTIMIZATION OF THE ROLE OF THE GENERAL ELECTION COMMISSION OF DISTRICT IN SOCIALIZATION OF GENERAL ELECTION OF 2018 REGIONAL HEADS TO BEGINNER VOTERS (Descriptive Study of Beginner Voters in Ciamis District in 2018 Regent and Vice Regent Election of Ciamis)

Gelar Pangestu1, Kiki Endah2

1)2)Universitas Galuh, Ciamis, e-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The role of the General Election Commission in organizing elections is not merely related to the parties participating in the election, but also must provide political socialization to the public as voters in the election. Voters are Indonesian citizens who have reached the age of 17 (seventeen) years old. In fact socialization so far only targeted beginner voters in school. The purpose of this study was to develop a program to carry out socialization carried out by the Ciamis KPU to novice voters in order to gain knowledge, beliefs and political attitudes. This study used descriptive qualitative method. The results of this study indicate that the role of the Ciamis Regency Election Commission in the socialization of the 2018 regional head elections to novice voters has not been optimal. This can be seen from the number of beginner voters who do not yet know and get knowledge, beliefs and political attitudes from the socialization carried out. Socialization needs to be done with various methods other than direct communication in the form of face-to-face or lectures. In addition to the socialization of using media, including online media. There is a need for continued coordination and collaboration with various parties, both government agencies, schools, and parents in socializing the importance of using their right to vote and participating in the successful holding of regional elections.

Keywords: General Election Commission, Socialization, Beginner Voters

Introductions abstract concept of popular sovereignty In a country the main indicator is to become clearer. Election results are said to be democratic is the existence people who represent the people and of general elections (elections). work for and on behalf of the people. Democracy is generally defined as a Thus, the General Election is the gate government of, by and for the people. of change to take the people directly to As one of the instruments of choose leaders who have the ability to democracy, elections change the formulate appropriate policies, and

H a l a m a n | 11 JGSRD: Journal of Government Science and Rural Development Volume 1, Nomor 1, Maret 2020 Website: https://ojs.unigal.ac.id/index.php/JGSRD have the sensitivity to improve the and have only been held in a number of people's lot. schools. Though there are also novice The task and authority of the voters who do not continue their General Election Commission (KPU) education and they also have the same in holding elections is not merely rights and must gain knowledge and related to the parties participating in the understanding through the socialization election, but also must provide political of the Election of Regional Heads of socialization to the public as voters in Regent and Deputy Regent of Ciamis the election. in 2018. The socialization carried out by In addition, there is still a priori the Ciamis Regency KPU to novice attitude, and the limited human voters became a necessity to increase resources of the Ciamis Regency KPU the political knowledge of novice have made socialization unable to be voters so as to participate maximally in carried out as a whole and be extended elections. to novice voters as a whole. Based on Based on Law Number 7 of 2017 the background of the problems concerning General Elections Chapter mentioned above, the following 1 Article 1 number 34 explained that, research problems can be formulated: Voters are Indonesian citizens who are 1. How to Optimize Roles Ciamis even 17 (seventeen) years of age or Regency KPU in 2018 Regional older, have been married, or have Head Election Socialization to already married. Beginner Voters? From the two times the holding 2. How are the obstacles faced in of the Election of the Regional Head of Optimizing the Role of Ciamis the Regent and Deputy Regent of Regency KPU in the Socialization Ciamis Regency, it can be seen that the of 2018 Regional Election to number of voters has increased. Of Beginner Voters? course this fact shows that novice 3. What are the efforts made to voters are the strategic target of overcome the obstacles faced in socialization from the KPU especially Optimizing the Role of Ciamis to provide an initial understanding of Regency KPU in the Socialization the election. For this reason, optimizing of 2018 Regional Election to the role of the Ciamis Regency KPU in Beginner Voters? providing outreach to voter voters is urgently needed, as a manifestation of Theoritical Framework successful, fair and quality elections. Previous research on the role of The socialization carried out by the General Election Commission the Ciamis Regency KPU so far has (KPU) in the socialization was only been conducted for novice voters conducted by Putri (2016) The Role of who are still continuing their education the General Election Commission in

H a l a m a n | 12 JGSRD: Journal of Government Science and Rural Development Volume 1, Nomor 1, Maret 2020 Website: https://ojs.unigal.ac.id/index.php/JGSRD the Election Socialization as an effort dynamic process of status. In addition, to Increase Public Political the implementation of a role is very Participation in the 2014 Presidential related to the implementation of rights Election in East Kalimantan. In and obligations in accordance with addition, there is also a study their position. In this case, the role of conducted by Rita (2016) The Role of the Regency KPU is part of the the General Election Commission in organizers of the 2018 regional head the Dissemination of Regional Head elections. Whereas the community Elections to Disabled Persons in the including beginner voters performs the City of Bandar Lampung. The study role of citizens who are given the right conducted examined the role of the to participate by using their right to General Election Commission (KPU) vote in the 2018 regional head in the socialization of regional head elections. elections (post-conflict local elections) General Election to persons with disabilities in Bandar Referring to the article Article 1 Lampung City. number 1 of Law Number 8 of 2015 The two studies above have concerning Amendment to Law differences with what the authors did, Number 1 of 2015 concerning the where the research is more focused on Stipulation of Government Regulation optimizing the role of the Kiamis in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2014 Regency KPU as the organizer and concerning Election of Governors, first-time voters as the object of Regents and Mayors to Act, can it is socialization in the 2018 regional head known that the Election of the elections. Governor and Deputy Governor, the Optimization Regent and Deputy Regent, as well as The word optimization comes the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, from the optimal base word that has a hereinafter referred to as Election, shall good meaning; highest; most be the exercise of popular sovereignty profitable. While optimization means in the provinces and districts / cities to optimization. Optimization means the elect regional leaders directly and process; way; the act of optimizing; democratically. make better; the highest, etc. Election Commission Optimizing means making the best; The General Election make the highest point. (Language Commission (KPU) is the only Center of the Indonesian Ministry of institution that has the authority in National Education, 2008: 985-986). holding legislative elections, Role presidential elections and regional head From the opinions of Soekanto elections in Indonesia. All aspects and Sulistyowati (2014: 210-211), it relating to the holding of elections are can be concluded that the role is a

H a l a m a n | 13 JGSRD: Journal of Government Science and Rural Development Volume 1, Nomor 1, Maret 2020 Website: https://ojs.unigal.ac.id/index.php/JGSRD the responsibility of the KPU and not between the giver and receiver of the other institutions. message. Through this process, people KPU is an independent institution recognize and obtain the values, norms that organizes elections in Indonesia and political symbols of the state from that is national, permanent and various parties in the political system independent. As stated in Article 1 as stated by Gatara and Said (2011: number 8 of Law Number 7 of 2017 79). concerning General Elections it is In political socialization, there stated that, the General Election are several agents who are seen to play Commission hereinafter abbreviated as an important role, including family, KPU is a national EMB, permanent, school, peer groups and mass media. and independent in carrying out The agent is seen as having a role in elections. shaping knowledge, attitudes, values, One of the objectives of the 2018 essential behavioral norms, and Regional Head Election socialization to expectations in relation to politics new voters by the Ciamis Regency (Damsar, 2013:154). KPU is to increase the knowledge, In line with the objectives of understanding and awareness of the political socialization, voter education public especially the beginner voters is also an effort to instill values related about rights and obligations in to elections to citizens, including elections. beginner voters. It also includes Political Socialization providing electoral information, Political socialization is defined understanding of aspects of elections as a process whereby through this and democracy. process a person gains an attitude and The target of voter education orientation towards political according to the General Election phenomena, which generally applies in Commission (2015:16-22), is generally the society in which he is located. divided into 3 (three) voter clusters that As Dawson (Sitepu, 2012: 190) are the target group, namely the argues that, 'political socialization can strategic voter group (first-time voters be seen as an inheritance of knowledge, in it), vulnerable groups and other values, and political views of parents, target groups. teachers and other means of political The purpose of voter education is socialization to new citizens and their to increase participation, increase who grew up. political literacy and increase The method of delivering volunteerism driven by a certain political socialization is divided into idealism unconditionally. To carry out two categories, namely political and realize these objectives, according education and political indoctrination. to the General Election Commission Political education is a dialogic process (2015:24-29) there are 8 (eight)

H a l a m a n | 14 JGSRD: Journal of Government Science and Rural Development Volume 1, Nomor 1, Maret 2020 Website: https://ojs.unigal.ac.id/index.php/JGSRD strategies, namely the use of describe what it is related to variables information technology, the use of or conditions in a situation. mass media, educational institutions, Through this method, the author the utilization of socio-cultural tries to obtain information, new activities and hobby communities, meanings, and describe a phenomenon smart homes, volunteers for democracy /event about how to Optimize the Role and other creations. of the Ciamis Regency Election Beginner Voter Commission in the Socialization of the From the opinion of Rudini 2018 Regional Election to Beginner (Renciasyah, 2015: 19) it is known that Voters (Descriptive Study of Beginner novice voters are those aged 17-21 Voters in Ciamis District). years and only the first or have used their right to vote once. In addition, Result and Discussions novice voters also lack experience in The socialization here is not just voting. This lack of experience is due socialization that touches on procedural to limited political insight. While the aspects such as the stages of election low political knowledge is due to the and technical elections, but also beginner voters, including the floating substantive aspects such as explaining period. From the understanding of the rights and obligations of a citizen, voters according to Law Number 7 of the importance of participating in the 2017 concerning General Elections of political process as well as the Chapter 1 Article 1 number 34, it can formation of intelligent voters who be seen that one of the conditions said have and gaining knowledge, beliefs to be a Voter is an Indonesian citizen and political attitudes. As stated by who is even 17 (seventeen) years old. Thio (Damsar, 2013: 153), the boundaries of political socialization are Method processes by which individuals gain In this study the authors used a political knowledge, beliefs and qualitative method. As a research attitudes. procedure that produces descriptive From this it can be seen that there data in the form of written or oral are at least three dimensions in political words from people and observable socialization, namely: gaining behavior. knowledge, beliefs and political Descriptive research is conducted attitudes. to obtain information, new meanings, From the understanding of voters explain a phenomenon or event as it is. according to Law Number 7 of 2017 In descriptive studies there is no concerning General Elections of control of treatment as in the study of Chapter 1 Article 1 number 34, it can experiments because the aim is to be seen that one of the conditions said to be a Voter is an Indonesian citizen

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(WNI) who is already 17 (seventeen) voter, they also have a personal years old. So it is known that novice closeness or even an aspect of time that voters are not only those who are 17 is sufficiently intense. years old and attend school, but also Novice voters go to school or those who are even 17 years old even novice voters who don't go to school, though they are no longer in school. both have gained trust even in different Whereas the voter education target ways. Besides that after gaining that according to the General Election trust they were also ready to participate Commission (2015: 16-22), is and confidently came to the polling generally divided into 3 (three) voter station to make their choice in the 2018 clusters that are the target group, Regional Election in Ciamis Regency. namely the strategic voter group (first- Political socialization is part of time voters in it), vulnerable groups the process that determines one's and other target groups. political attitude. Beginner voters with Ignorance whether it has been political socialization and the registered or not in the Permanent acquisition of knowledge and trust, it Voter List (DPT), to the ignorance of will further strengthen in addition to the location of the polling station (TPS) developing political attitudes to carry to use the right to vote. It is evidence out roles. that the socialization carried out by the Whereas the General Election Ciamis Regency Election Commission Commission (2015:24-29) explains that as the organizer has not been optimal in there are 8 (eight) strategies, namely carrying out the socialization. Whereas the use of information technology, the in the era of digital development, mass use of mass media, educational media has become a means that should institutions, the utilization of socio- be used wisely and to the maximum cultural activities and hobby extent possible. Socialization through communities, smart homes, democratic the use of social media, including the volunteers and other creations. These SiJalih application, can help beginner eight strategies have not been fully voters know that they are registered as implemented so that the role of the DPT or not, and that they can Ciamis Regency Election Commission completely and accurately be used to in the dissemination of information to determine the location of polling novice voters has not been maximized. stations (TPS). Among them is the use of mass The role of families and teachers media which, although they are very apart from the Ciamis Regency conventional in nature, the mass media Election Commission in political is still one of the effective vehicles to socialization is very important. In convey information to voters. Because addition to better understanding the of its ability to reach the entire daily life and personality of the novice community massively without

H a l a m a n | 16 JGSRD: Journal of Government Science and Rural Development Volume 1, Nomor 1, Maret 2020 Website: https://ojs.unigal.ac.id/index.php/JGSRD exception. The mass media play an 2018 regional head elections to novice important role in implementing voter voters in Ciamis Subdistrict, Ciamis education in order to educate citizens Regency, there are several obstacles and spread democratic values. This faced such as lack of human resources includes novice voters who, on or limited technical socialization, lack average, are so close to a variety of of confidence in beginner voters , the social media through the technology socialization method used still they use. prioritizes face-to-face communication, In addition to forming political as well as a lack of references / sources attitudes, more collaboration between of reference information regarding the educational institutions and the General 2018 regional elections. Apart from the Election Commission is needed. As is lack of information about the space known, educational institutions are a given to them in taking roles, and the strategic part in optimizing the role of low awareness to participate for the organizers in the socialization of success of the 2018 Ciamis Regional Regional Head Elections. This is due to Election. several reasons such as that educational Efforts are made to overcome the institutions are scattered in all parallel obstacles in optimizing the role of the regions with the existence of the KPU. General Election Commission (KPU) And the number of voters in of the Ciamis Regency in the educational institutions is very large, socialization of the 2018 regional head namely pre-voters and novice voters. elections to novice voters in Ciamis Subdistrict, Ciamis Regency, starting Conclusion from coordinating and collaborating The role of the Ciamis Regency with socialization agents to reach out to Election Commission (KPU) in the novice voters overall, maximizing the socialization of the 2018 regional head provision of materials and media elections to novice voters in Ciamis outreach, as well as promoting the Subdistrict Ciamis Regency has been existence of the Election Smart House carried out although it has not been as a vehicle for learning and optimal. This is because there are information about elections, several indicators that have not been And based on observations in the implemented properly and optimally by field that the role of the General the General Election Commission Election Commission (KPU) of Ciamis (KPU) of Ciamis Regency according to Regency has not been optimal due to their duties, authorities and obligations. the lack of socialization of the 2018 In implementing the optimization regional head elections conducted to of the role of the General Election novice voters due to the limited Commission (KPU) of the Ciamis technical staff for the socialization of Regency in the socialization of the the Ciamis Regency KPU, the lack of a

H a l a m a n | 17 JGSRD: Journal of Government Science and Rural Development Volume 1, Nomor 1, Maret 2020 Website: https://ojs.unigal.ac.id/index.php/JGSRD comprehensive program to socialize a vehicle for learning democracy and regional head elections. in 2018 carried increased awareness and confidence of out by the Kiamis Regency KPU, and novice voters to participate in the 2018 lack of information and reference regional elections. material for novice voters regarding the So that the efforts of the General 2018 regional head elections. Election Commission (KPU) of Ciamis Regarding the optimization of the Regency in optimizing their role in the role of the Ciamis Regency Election socialization of the 2018 regional head Commission (KPU) in the socialization elections to novice voters in Ciamis of the 2018 regional head elections to District of Ciamis Regency, it is novice voters in Ciamis District, necessary to have ongoing coordination Ciamis Regency, the KPU should make and cooperation with various parties a comprehensive socialization program both government agencies, schools, to so that novice voters go to school and parents in socializing the importance of get the right to obtain the same exercising their right to vote and information. In addition, the KPU can participating in the successful holding also form a kind of democratic of the 2018 Regent and Deputy Regent volunteer who helps the KPU in terms Ciamis regional head elections. of human resources and performs a persuasive function and disseminates Bibliografi information regarding the elections of Ahmad, Jamaluddin. (2015). Metode the regional head of the regent and vice Penelitian Administrasi Publik : regent of Ciamis in 2018. Teori & Aplikasi. Yogyakarta: Gava Media. To overcome obstacles or obstacles encountered, socialization Damsar. 2013. Pengantar Sosiologi should be carried out with a variety of Politik. Jakarta: Kencana. methods other than direct communication in the form of face-to- Firmanzah. 2012. Marketing Politik : face/lectures, but for example with Antara Pemahaman dan other forms such as simulations, Realitas. Jakarta: Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia. seminars, discussions, workshops, talk shows and maybe even training. In Gatara, Said A., & Said, Dzulkiah M. addition to the socialization of utilizing 2011. Sosiologi Politik, Konsep print mass media, electronic mass dan Dinamika Perkembangan media and/or online media. Kajian (2 ed.). (E. N Sugriati, Information and socialization carried Penyunt.) : CV out through these media as well as Pustaka Setia. other creative media such as art, helped Komisi Pemilihan Umum RI. 2015. the KPU carry out a comprehensive Pedoman Pendidikan Pemilih. socialization program, made the media

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