Ethnic and religious orientation towards people's choice of political parties in Medan City

Abstract

This study examines voter behavior in choosing political parties influenced by the dominant ethnicity and religion in Medan City. Thus, the main factors are contributed by religious, ethnic, and gender preferences. Various studies have shown that ethnic and religious issues greatly influence candidates' victory. However, studying how someone finally chooses the political party they vote for is still very rare. This research uses quantitative research methods. The data sources used in this research are primary data sources through distributing questionnaires and field interviews. The results showed that as many as 41% of respondents agreed they would not support a political party whose ideology did not come from their religion. Furthermore, when it comes to ethnic orientation, 41% of Respondents Agree that they like political parties that still respect customs, especially those related to their customs and culture. Thus, many people still choose political parties due to the influence of party identity, in this case, religion and ethnicity.