Local Democracy and the Challenge of Legitimacy: The Study of Voter Participation in the 2024 Merangin Regional Election in Rantau Limau Manis Village, Tabir Ilir District
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33019/.v8i1.386Keywords:
Electoral legitimacy, local democracy, local election, voter participationAbstract
The phenomenon of low voter result in the 2024 Merangin Regional Election is examined in this paper, with particular attention to Rantau Limau Manis Village in Tabir Ilir District, which had a turnout rate of just 33.99%. Examining voter apathy's social, political, and structural causes as well as its effects on the legitimacy of local democratic governance are the goals of the study. Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, information was gathered by means of documentation, observation, and interviews with local voters, village authorities, and community leaders. This study employs the theories of political participation, rational choice, and legitimacy. The results show that political disillusionment, poor candidate-voter relationships, and a lack of political knowledge are the main causes of low involvement. According to KPU laws, the election results are still legally valid, but they don't have much social validity in practice. The study demonstrates that substantive representation is not necessarily a direct result of local procedural democracy. By highlighting the fact that local political participation is influenced more by cultural engagement and communal trust than by national-level political structures, this micro-level analysis offers a fresh perspective on electoral studies in Indonesia. In order to restore confidence in electoral institutions, contextualized political education including community, religious, and traditional leaders is necessary to strengthen participatory democracy in rural areas.
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