Voting Behaviour and its Associated Factors: A Case of the Local Election in Malaka District, Indonesia

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with voting behaviour of voters in the local election in Malaka district in 2015. One-on-one in-depth interviews were employed to collect data from the participants (n=35). Participants were recruited using purposive sampling technique. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis and guided by the theory of voting behaviour. The study results indicated that voting behaviour of the participants was determined by the voters’ initial conditions including socio-cultural and traditional values, level of education and economic factor. Data, information and news were mass media factors that also influenced the voting behaviour of the participants. Candidate factors including performance records, political marketing and programmes offered by each candidate were also reported to influence the voting behaviour of the participants. Administrative and technical factors including double recording of the names of voters, invitation letter from regional electoral commission for voters did not arrive at designated address, and long distance of the voting places, were also associated with the lack of participation of the participants in voting for the candidates. This study indicates that there is a need for political education for society at large in order to increase their understanding and political participation.