Articles
DOI DOI: 10.62441/actainnovations.v63i.1370

MOBILIZING YOUNG VOTERS IN EMERGING DEMOCRACIES: LESSONS FROM INDONESIA’S POLITICAL PARTY STRATEGIES

Zainul Djumadin 1
  1. 1 Lecturer Political Science, faculty Political and social Science, Universitas Nasional, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia.

Abstract

Young people especially millennials and members of Generation Z, play a critical role in newly democratizing countries. However, their voting behavior is often unpredictable. The present research examines the ways that political organizations in Indonesia, the third-largest democracy in the world, mobilize the youth electorate and improve the quality of elections. The research employs a qualitative descriptive methodology, and the gathered evidence is analyzed comprehensively through studying publications, party programs, campaigning materials, and already existing data. Four main strategies are identified. These include reflecting youth issues in political programs concerned with education, employment, and ecological problems. Using modern digital tools and social media is the second strategy of the research. The third is to provide young politicians with more positions in politics to represent the interests of younger generations. The last strategy is cooperating with youth leaders and influencers to have a wider outreach. The integrative approaches identified in relation to enabling factors and digital integration can serve as strategies for achieving the goals of building trust, enhancing inclusion, and ensuring the legitimacy of elections. However, there are still many obstacles to overcome, including anti-establishment sentiment among young people, disinformation spread through social media, and a lack of youth representation within party hierarchies. Focusing on Indonesia, these findings highlight youth-engaged and deliberately implemented mechanisms that could improve electoral standards and democratic resilience at the national level while providing lessons for other emerging democracies facing similar challenges.

How to Cite

Djumadin , Z. (2026). MOBILIZING YOUNG VOTERS IN EMERGING DEMOCRACIES: LESSONS FROM INDONESIA’S POLITICAL PARTY STRATEGIES. ACTA INNOVATIONS, 63, 1221–1230. https://doi.org/10.62441/actainnovations.v63i.1370
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