POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN WEST NUSA TENGGARA GOVERNOR ELECTION 2013

*93 Non-voters behavior (abstentions) is frequently occur on the Direct Regional Head
Election in Indonesia. In West Nusa Tenggara Province, the number of voters who
did not invoke their right to vote are become increase. On West Nusa Tenggara
Governor Election 2008, the number of voters who choose to be abstains are reach
25,05% from total number of registered voters. Meanwhile, on West Nusa Tenggara
Governor Election 2013, the “White Group” are increase about 29,54%. The high
number of voters who did not invoke their voting right shows the decreasing of
voters’ participation.
This research aimed to determine the level of political participation of community in
West Nusa Tenggara Governor Election 2013. This research is focused on the
measurement of the political participation level in the form of conventional political
participation. In addition, this research is also aims to know people’s assessments
toward their chosen candidates of Governor and Deputy Governor in West Nusa
Tenggara Governor Election 2013. Either West Nusa Tenggara Voters are
categorized as rational voters or not. Moreover, this research conducted in order to
learn factors/reasons of societies in their bearing to become non-voters (abstentions).
Quantitative Method by use survey as the main method, added by Qualitative Method
by use in-depth interview is made the results of this research are clear and
meaningful rather than only use one method. The results of this research that
political participation level of society in West Nusa Tenggara Province are
categorized as low. Results of this research show that 61% respondents did not
actively participate in the West Nusa Tenggara Governor Election 2013 Stages.
Meanwhile, the most common form of political participation done in people live is
giving vote for one of the candidates of Governor and Deputy Governor in West Nusa
Tenggara Governor Election 2013. Voters who have voted one of the candidates are
categorized as rational voters. Furthermore, there are 31% respondents in this
research who did not use their voting right in West Nusa Tenggara Governor
Election 2013. The reason to become abstains is in disbelief that the candidate
governor and deputy governor will fulfill their promises that has been declared
during the campaign processes.
It is recommended for the next researcher to conduct the next research that is
intended to examine the statistic in order to prove the reality in West Nusa Tenggara
Province. In addition, it is also recommended to carry out other research that
examine about how far the influence of non-voters behavior toward the decreasing of
voters participation, in a different perspective.