Generation Z Voter Behavior

Case Study of Generation Z Voter Behavior Ahead of the 2024 Surabaya City Regional Head Election

Abstract

This article reveals the political behavior of Generation Z in the city of Surabaya ahead of the Regional Head Election which elects the 2024 Mayor and Deputy Mayor which will be held in October 2024. The political behavior that is the focus of the study is Generation Z's decision to use their right to vote or not to use their right to vote. Generation Z's voting behavior is categorized based on rational voters, traditional voters and critical voters. The research approach uses a qualitative approach, with a naturalistic or field research method. Data was obtained from informants who were divided into two categories, namely generation Z informants who had decided to use their right to vote, and informants from generation Z who had decided not to use their right to vote. The differentiation of informants is intended to explore factors supporting participation and factors inhibiting participation. An important research result is that in general the voting behavior of generation Z in the city of Surabaya is rational voters. This dissertation's in-depth focus is on Supporting Factors which can be differentiated from a Sociological perspective and a Psychological perspective. The Sociological perspective refers to the findings of how informants interact with their social environment, while the Psychological perspective refers to how psychological symptoms occur in generation Z. Inhibiting factors are also seen from a Sociological and Psychological perspective. Sociological factors that support generation Z's participation in the Surabaya Mayoral Election include: the role of the Surabaya KPU, the role of the Surabaya City Bawaslu, the Surabaya city government, peer groups, and the role of props. Meanwhile, psychological perspectives that support participation include; personal assessment, empathy, positive image, and social atmosphere. Meanwhile, factors inhibiting participation from a sociological perspective found; distance between domiciles, family factors, hoaxes or fake news. Psychological inhibiting factors include; disappointment with circumstances, and alienation.