By : Barra Dwi Rajendra)*
Golput (white group) is an action where someone deliberately does not vote when the general election takes place. Abstention is of course dangerous because it could potentially derail the election. Therefore, the students declared a movement to reject Golput, in order to make the 2024 elections a success.
The elections will be held on February 14 2024. Even though the campaign period has not yet entered, the echoes of this once every 5 years program are already being heard. The 2024 election is very exciting and people are curious about who will be the next leader. They want the new leader to continue various Government programs.
However, ahead of the election there is a threat in the form of abstention. Where there are a handful of people who are spreading rumors so that people abstain and ignore the 2024 elections. The elections are still several months away but the situation is already heating up because there are provocations so that people do not vote on election day.
Movements from groups calling for abstention from the 2024 election agenda are increasingly being propagated at the campus student and community level. Therefore, students held actions and declarations to reject abstention in the upcoming elections
Ahmadi, as Chair of the Yogyakarta Student Movement Front (FPMY), said that his organization had the idea of calling for abstaining from abstention in the upcoming 2024 elections. Golput is dangerous because it can hurt democracy.
FPMY issued a position statement aimed at inviting and campaigning to all levels of students and members of the nation’s community everywhere to have the courage to firmly reject and fight movements that endanger public security and order (security and public order) and national stability ahead of the 2024 elections.
Ahmadi continued, FPMY firmly rejects and calls for the dissolution of groups calling for Abstention in the 2024 Election. Furthermore, FPMY supports the law enforcement government to achieve national stability ahead of the 2024 Election. FPMY also hopes that the authorities will take action and punish provocateurs who will endanger public security and order and the implementation of the 2024 Election. .
The students also invited all students in Yogyakarta to protect themselves from the propaganda of provocative groups that would harm democracy. They also invited students and the community to always strengthen nationalism and nationhood in order to maintain the conduciveness of social security and order in Yogyakarta for the Republic of Indonesia.
The movement to reject abstentions initiated by students is very good because it can smooth the 2024 election process. Rejecting abstentions also gives strength to political parties and potential leaders.
In a democratic system, political parties are a tool to represent public interests. By voting for political parties or candidates for leadership and representatives of the people who have visions and programs that suit the needs of society, the people provide support and strengthen democracy.
Without active support from society, political parties and potential leaders may not have the power to carry out the reform agenda and move the country forward.
Golput can reduce the quality of democracy because it weakens political competition. Low voter participation can strengthen the dominance of certain groups in politics and reduce the diversity of opinion that is important in a democratic system. Therefore, the public appreciates students who firmly reject abstention in the 2024 elections.
Meanwhile, students who are members of the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI) Bojonegoro Regency, East Java, refuse to abstain from voting in the 2024 elections.
GMNI Bojonegoro Demo Coordinator Moch. Ridwan stated that his party rejects abstention and also does not agree if people ask for money in return to exercise their right to vote in the 2015 elections. For him, voting must be in accordance with conscience.
The students came with a number of posters and banners inviting the public not to abstain from voting and to exercise their right to vote in the elections. Their actions were appreciated by the public because they openly supported the elections and campaigned against abstention.
M. Ridwan invited the public to use this election opportunity as a momentum for the integrity of the people’s voice and a stepping stone to achieve a better future for the nation.
Abstention is not a solution to improve the fate of the nation. The reason is because if many people do not exercise their right to vote, then Indonesia’s future is at stake. There will be many empty ballot papers because the majority of people decide to abstain for reasons of skepticism about the condition of the country, criticism of the government, emotions towards officials, and so on.
If there are a lot of blank ballot papers, it will be detrimental because there is the potential for misuse by unscrupulous individuals. The ballot paper could have been pierced with a nail or scribbled on with a pen, and then fraud occurred.
The party that is elected is not 100% the people’s choice, but is the result of the crimes of the individuals who work at the polling stations. Therefore, there must be a movement to reject abstention in order to save Indonesia’s future.
The students held an action to urge the public not to abstain from voting in the 2024 elections. When someone abstains, it means they are harming themselves because they cannot choose their own leader, which also harms democracy. Therefore, all Indonesian people aged 17 years and over are expected to properly participate in all election processions and cast their votes on election day.
)* The author is a Contributor to Angkasa Media Satu
