Sosialisasi KPU Kota Medan dan Perilaku Pemilih Pemula dalam Pelaksanaan Pilkada Walikota dan Wakil Walikota Medan di Masa Pandemi Covid-19 Tahun

Abstract

The General Election Commission (KPU) is a state institution that is in charge and responsible for the implementation of general elections and regional head elections. Socialization of the election for the mayor and deputy mayor of Medan in 2020 was carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic for first-time voters. Beginner voters act based on an orientation. This study aims to find out about outreach activities, obstacles by the Medan City Election Commission on Beginner Voters in the 2020 Pandemic era and to find out the behavior of first-time voters in Medan City during the 2020 Mayor and Deputy Elections. The research method used is a qualitative descriptive research method. Data collection techniques using the method of observation, interviews and documentation. The research informants were determined using the snowball sampling procedure. The theory used in this study is social action theory by Max Weber. From the results of the research conducted, Socialization to novice voters such as going to public schools in the city of Medan, the democracy volunteer community, collaboration with stakeholders or agencies, through social media such as Instagram, Facebook, and the Medan City Election Commission website. New voters were satisfied with the KPU's socialization. The KPU felt socialization obstacles during the pandemic such as limited participants, difficulty speaking due to masks, network constraints, not conducive and inactive zoom participants and concerns about the public's reluctance to come to the TPS. The social action behavior of novice voters in the city of Medan is based on 3 actions. The first is instrumental rational action such as the candidate's background, experience or performance, education level, candidate figure, and promises in the campaign. Second, action based on rational values based on the vision and mission of the candidate. Third, based on traditional actions such as kinship (family), parents, friendship, region of origin, religion, and ethnicity.