"This show is expected to help them better understand the importance of the general elections and of selecting their preferred legislative candidates and pair of presidential and vice presidential candidates,"Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - The West Nusa Tenggara Millennial Caucus held a talk show here on Friday, with the theme, "the Millennials Vote", to encourage first-time voters to participate in the parliamentary and presidential elections, due to be held simultaneously on April 17. National Millennial Caucus Coordinator Sabolah Al Kalamby said the show was expected to educate voters, especially millennials, who would cast their votes for the first time in the upcoming elections.
"This show is expected to help them better understand the importance of the general elections and of selecting their preferred legislative candidates and pair of presidential and vice presidential candidates," he said.
Stating that the percentage of millenials was predicted to reach around 40 percent of the total number of registered voters across the country, Al Kalamby described their contribution as indispensable.
Describing millennials, he said they are not just those who are in senior high school or at university but also those who do not have a formal education. All of them should contribute to the success of the upcoming elections, he said.
On April 17, around 192 million eligible voters across Indonesia will flock to polling booths to cast their votes for their representatives at the House of Representatives (DPR), Regional Representatives Council (DPD), as well as provincial and district/city legislative bodies.
They will also vote for their preferred pair of presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Indonesian citizens living or traveling abroad will also be able to exercise their voting rights in areas determined by the local election committees at the Indonesian embassies, consulate generals, and consulates.
With the due date inching closer, legislative candidates of various political parties are intensifying their efforts to approach community members, who are eligible to vote, including millennials.
The same strategy is also being applied by the Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin and Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno pairs.
Regarding these elections, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has hinted that the participation rate is a serious challenge, and his ministry has set a target of at least 77.5 percent of the total number of voters.
According to the Home Affairs Ministry`s Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration Agency, there were 5,035,887 first-time voters who would turn 17 years old on January 1, 2018, up to April 17, 2019.
Translator: Nur Imansyah, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
