Young people constitute the largest voting bloc in the 2024 General\nElection. Data from the General Elections Commission (KPU) shows there\nwere 63,953,031 voters aged 17-30 years, or 31.23% of the permanent\nvoter list (DPT). When combined with the 31-40 age group, totalling\n42,398,719 voters (20.70%), more than half of Indonesian voters,\napproximately 51.93%, are citizens aged 17-40 years. This demographic\ncomposition indicates that the direction of Indonesian democracy is\nfundamentally determined by the younger generation.<\/p>\n
However, the large number of young voters is not yet proportional to\ntheir representation in political institutions elected through\nelections. Of the 580 DPR members resulting from the 2024 Election, only\n27 people (4.50%) are aged 21-30 years and 70 people (11.39%) are aged\n31-40 years. Thus, DPR members under the age of 40 number only 97\npeople, or about 16.72%. Some of them also come from political families\nthat already have prior access to power. The gap between the composition\nof voters and the composition of people\u2019s representatives shows that the\npolitical participation of young people is still far greater as voters\ncompared to as decision-makers.<\/p>\n
Youth representation needs attention because democracy requires\nrepresentative institutions capable of reflecting the diversity of\ncommunity groups, including age groups. The presence of young people in\npolitical institutions is important not only to strengthen demographic\nrepresentation but also to ensure that the interests and perspectives of\nthe younger generation gain adequate space in the public decision-making\nprocess.<\/p>\n
The persistently low representation of young people cannot be\nexplained solely as a matter of individual interest or capacity. The\nbarriers faced are structural. High political costs, party recruitment\nprocesses that are not yet fully merit-based, and limited institutional\nsupport for young cadres are factors that limit their opportunities to\nrun for office and compete on an equal footing.<\/p>\n
In the 2024 Election, almost all political parties nominated\ncandidates aged 21-30 years, with some parties even placing more than\n15% of their candidates from this age group. However, the large number\nof nominations has not been proportional to the electability rate. There\nare major challenges faced due to high political costs, recruitment\nmechanisms that are not yet fully merit-based, the placement of\ncandidates in less competitive list positions, and the strong influence\nof power networks in the candidacy process.<\/p>\n
Nomination and campaign costs reaching billions of rupiah are\nobstacles that are difficult for most young people to overcome. A number\nof elected DPR members reported campaign costs reaching Rp2 billion to\nRp4 billion. Various surveys even indicate higher costs to obtain a\nsingle DPR seat. Ultimately, this situation encourages political\ncompetition that is more advantageous for those with large economic\nresources or closeness to the political elite.<\/p>\n
Another problem lies in the recruitment mechanisms of political\nparties, which still heavily depend on elite decisions. Many young\ncadres who have capacity and experience do not get the same\nopportunities because they lack access to power networks within the\nparty. In fact, political parties should be the main instrument for\npolitical leadership regeneration and recruitment that is open and\nmerit-based.<\/p>\n
The Academic Paper on the Codification of the Election Bill proposed\nby Civil Society (comprising Perludem, Netgrit, PSHK, and others)\nidentifies that high political costs cannot be separated from the weak\nparty political funding system. The amount of state funding allocated to\nparties is still far from the real operational needs of the parties.\nThis condition encourages parties to rely on contributions from\ncandidates, both in the form of dues and various levies, which in\npractice become barriers for cadres who do not have adequate financial\ncapacity.<\/p>\n
Another problem is the regulatory disharmony between the Election\nLaw, the Regional Election Law, and the Political Party Law. Various\nprovisions regarding candidacy, political funding, and party governance\nare still scattered across different laws that are not always aligned\nwith one another. As a result, efforts to build a more inclusive\npolitical recruitment system become increasingly difficult to\nimplement.<\/p>\n
The gap between more than half of the voters being aged 17-40 years\nand only about 16.72% of DPR members coming from this age group shows\nthat electoral law reform is not enough just to expand participation as\nvoters. Reform must also open fairer access for the younger generation\nto be elected as policymakers.<\/p>\n
There are at least three paths that can be taken to strengthen youth\nrepresentation in politics. First, incorporating affirmative instruments\nor incentives for young candidates in the revision of the Election Law,\nwhich is a priority legislation in the 2026 National Legislation\nProgramme (Prolegnas). This path is the most strategic option because it\ndirectly affects the aspects of candidacy, candidate lists, and\nelectoral competition mechanisms. Second, strengthening merit-based\nregeneration obligations through the revision of the Political Party\nLaw. This step is important to improve the internal party recruitment\nprocess. However, reform in this sector faces significant political\nchallenges because it is directly related to the distribution of power\nwithin parties. Third, strengthening provisions on youth political\nparticipation in the Youth Law. Although important as a normative\nfoundation, its effectiveness is relatively limited because it does not\ndirectly regulate the candidacy and electoral competition process. Of\nthe three paths, revising the Election Law is the most relevant option\nto pursue immediately.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/youth-inclusivity-in-electoral-law-reform-1782687032", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }