Voting behavior in mayoral election: A case study in Sibolga city, Indonesia

Abstract

Political identity is not considered a threat in Indonesia's democratic climate, particularly in local politics (Regent/Mayor/Governor Elections). The role of political identities is inseparable from local politics. Campaign issues and political marketing strategies that emphasize "Political Identity" have been shown to influence electorate behavior positively and reduce the reliance on monetary incentives. This study aims to assess the impact of tribal and religious-political identities on voter behavior in Sibolga City during the 2020 Mayoral Election. A survey method with a quantitative approach and correlation analysis was employed. The research was conducted in 4 subdistricts and 17 villages within Sibolga City, with a sample size of 399 participants. The findings indicate that the influence of religious political identities on voter behavior in the 2020 Sibolga Mayoral Election was 0.546. Additionally, the influence of tribal political identities on voter behavior was found to be 0.27, indicating a moderate impact. It was observed that religious political identities had a more significant influence than tribal identities in determining voter choices in Sibolga City's 2020 Mayoral Election.