Effect of New Media on Political Participation in the Border Area of the Republic of Indonesia - The Democratic Republic of East Timor

Abstract

Indonesia held the Legislative and Presidential Elections simultaneously on April 17, 2019. In these elections' candidates and the success team actively used new media to influence voters. This research was conducted to find out how much influence the new media has on political participation in the 2019 elections, especially in Belu Regency as the border region of Indonesia-Timor Leste. The researchers previously examined the effect of the new media on the election of governors whose locations were in urban areas. In contrast to this study conducted in simultaneous elections located in rural areas in Belu Regency. This Research conducted in April 2019 with 282 respondents of beginner's voter in Belu Regency. The independent variables examined in this study were affect new media (X) and dependent variables of voter participation (Y). The theories used in this study are stimulus response theory, magic bullet theory, and political participation concept. Based on linear regression analysis, the variable X has a positive effect on the variable Y. However, this effect is included in the weak category with a correlation rate of 31.5 percent.

The effect of television media on beginner voters’ political participation

“…Dan Nimmo offered similar political participation concept: 1) Identification by political parties; 2) Registration to vote; 3) Voting in the general elections; 4) Taking part in the campaign (Nimmo, 2010). However, this study used Kennorton Hutasoit's concept of political participation which combines Jimenez's and Nimmo's political participation concepts (Hutasoit et al, 2020).…”