New Media and Political Communication Challenges for Difable in

Realizing Inclusive Election in 2024

Mami Eva Novayani, Pawito and Ign. Agung Satyawan

Communication Science Department, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia

Keywords New Media, Difable, Political Communication, Inclusive Election.

Abstract The presence of new internet-based media such as websites, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter has made it easy for

all communities to interact, including for people with. On the other hand, when people with disabilities use

new media they face obstacles in realizing inclusive elections in 2024. This study aims to provide an

understanding of new media in helping efforts to increase the fulfillment of the rights of people with

disabilities in the 2024 general election. Qualitative research is used in this research mainly by using in-depth

interview techniques to people with disabilities. Regulations regarding voters with disabilities are contained

in article 356. Paragraph 1, namely: Voters with visual disabilities, physical disabilities, and those who have

other physical barriers when casting their ballots at TPS can be assisted by other people at the request of the

voters. Various efforts have been made by various parties including the General Election Commission KPU

and political parties to realize inclusive elections that are friendly to persons with disabilities. The right of

people with disabilities to vote or make choices must continue to be fought for because they have the same

rights as citizens.

1 INTRODUCTION

This template, New Media is a medium that is

currently increasingly used by the public. Its presence

on the one hand can bring many benefits and on the

one hand can bring negative impacts. The condition

of the Covid-19 pandemic which limits many

physical meetings can also be a factor that affects the

increase in new media users.

Many people use new media for various

communication purposes, including friendship,

business, entertainment, politics and so on. In the

political field, new media has often been used for

political education for voters, campaigns and others.

Many people with certain limitations have also used

new media to communicate. With apps like Jaws.

New media are not the same as face-to-face-

interaction, but they provide new forms of interaction

that bring people back into personal contact in ways

that dolder media could not. For example, peolpe can

share pictures and exchange messages on Facebook.

At the same time, this communication is still mediated

because it is going through a device and ancourages

users to eschew face- to-face communication in favor

of mediated communication (Littlejohn, 2021).

According to Flew (2005), new media as “as those

forms that combine three CS: computing and

information technology (IT), communication-

network, ditigized media and information content.

Dan Nimmo explains the meaning of political

communication as follows. Politics comes from the

word polis which means the state, the city, which in

totality is the unity between the state (city) and its

people. The word polis evolved into politicos which

means citizenship. Then politicos became politera

which means citizenship rights. Political

communication is a communication process to

influence public knowledge, beliefs and actions

regarding political issues (Nimmo, 1989). In carrying

out the political and administrative processes, Merilee

S. Grindle, states that the implementation of activities

is influenced by two major contexts, namely the

content of a policy and its implementation. At the

point of policy content, the influencing factors are

interests, types of benefits, expected level of change,

decision making, program implementation, and

commitment of resources. In the context of

implementation. There are three influential factors,

namely the first power, interests and strategies of each

party involved, second, the characteristics of the

Novayani, M., Pawito, . and Satyawan, I.

New Media and Political Communication Challenges for Difable in Realizing Inclusive Election in 2024.

DOI: 10.5220/0010805000003348

In Proceedings of the 3rd Annual International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (AICOSH 2021), pages 88-92

ISBN: 978-989-758-603-3; ISSN: 2685-273X

institutions and regimes in power, thirdly compliance

and responsiveness (Grindle, 1980).

Efforts to realize elections that can be accessed by

all groups have been carried out by the KPU as

election organizers and political parties that also have

an interest in inviting people to become active voters.

In realizing disability-friendly inclusive elections,

political communications to educate politics must

continue to be built.

So far, there are still tendencies to think that

people with disabilities only have one eye and only

have shortcomings or limitations. The momentum of

December 3 every year which is commemorated as

International Day of Persons with Disabilities can be

a stepping stone for various elements of society to

give attention and care to them so that they can voice

their rights as citizens. One of them gives a choice of

their representatives both sitting in the executive and

legislative branches.

For people with disabilities, the commemoration

of Disabled Day should be able to motivate them to

move forward. Community concerns should get a

positive response so that they can progress.

Persons with Disabilities are any person who

experiences physical, intellectual, mental, and/or

sensory limitations in the long term in interacting

with the environment, may experience obstacles and

difficulties to participate fully and effectively with

other citizens based on equal rights (Bawaslu, 2018).

Various efforts have been made to realize

inclusive elections in Indonesia. However, until the

2020 regional head election, there has not been a

disability-friendly general election. Moreover, the

Covid-19 pandemic has had a wide impact, including

the holding of elections.

Accessibility in elections is a condition when

every citizen can exercise their political rights (to

vote, be elected, and appointed as election organizers)

directly, publicly, freely, confidentially, and

independently without any obstacles. Accessibility in

elections referred to here is facilities and services that

can facilitate persons with disabilities in granting

their political rights in elections. Accessibility is a

universal need, not a form of privilege for persons

with disabilities. The need or accessibility in elections

must be met at every stage of the election

(Afifuddin.M, 2019).

There are three previous studies that the author

uses as a reference. First, the journals of Nurul Hasfi,

Joyo NS Gono, Wiwid Noor Rakhmad which were

published in the Aspikom Journal Vol. 5 No. 1 year

2020. Article entitled Internet Access and the

Potential in Facilitating Online Political

Communication of the Disabled. It identifies the

potential of the internet as a means of online political

participation for disabled groups. Using the case

study method in the context of the 2018 Central Java

gubernatorial election, researchers conducted in-

depth interviews with persons with disabilities,

election administrators and educational institutions

with disabilities in the city of Semarang. The research

findings show that certain people with disabilities

(physical disabilities, deaf and mild) have access to

the internet, but no access to interactive political

communication. The internet has not functioned

optimally as an Assistive Technology (AT) mainly

due to the digital divide; skepticism of the internet

and limited internet literacy (Hasfi, Gono, & Wiwid,

2020).

Second, research by Indrawan, J., Efriza, Ilmar, A.

Their research on the Presence of New Media (New

Media) in the Political Communication Process

published in the Medium Journal (online). Vol.8

No.1. Social media makes it easier for a group to

exchange information and influence each other. Most

Indonesians are familiar with social media and have

social media accounts. Participating candidates in the

2019 general election not only ignores this, they use

social media as a means for campaigning. Candidates

introduce their program and try to win the sympathy

of potential voters without having to leave. More

efficient in terms of time and cost. But besides having

a positive side, social media also has a negative

impact such as the rise of hoaxes, post-truth and black

campaigns. This study aims to examine the

phenomenon of the widespread use of social media as

a political campaign strategy by building voter

sympathy and emotion rather than rationality. The

author uses the data collection method with literature

study, and the method used for this research is

literature study (Indrawan, Efriza, & Ilmar, 2020).

Third, the thesis of the postgraduate student of

Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, Yogyakarta,

Heru Dwi Herbowo, in 2020. The thesis is entitled

Implementation of Access Elections in Yogyakarta.

This paper explain that accessibility is one of the

important elements in implementation general

election for voters with disabilities that must be met.

Matter The aim is to make it easier for people with

disabilities to carry out activities related to general

elections and access at the Polling Station Vote

(TPS), so that they can obtain their political rights

optimally withoutbarriers and disabilities. For that,

the facilities and infrastructure related to the

implementation of elections need to be adjusted to

their needs. Mainly related to voting media to get

New Media and Political Communication Challenges for Difable in Realizing Inclusive Election in 2024

attention from the KPU as the organizer of the general

election. This research is a qualitative research with

research subjects among others, Yogyakarta City

KPU, Disability Base Volunteers, PPK, PPS,

disability community, and voters with disabilities.

While the object The research here is the fulfillment

of the accessibility of persons with disabilities in

holding the 2019 general election in the city of

Yogyakarta. To get information researchers used a

structured interview method by using Interview

Guide, as well as documentation. Researchers have

found that meeting the accessibility of persons with

disabilities in the implementation of the 2019 General

Election in Yogyakarta City, there are: some special

services and facilities for voters with disabilities.

However, there are still some shortcomings in

services and facilities for persons with disabilities

caused by inadequate capacity resources in

implementing existing policies (Herbowo, 2020).

2 RESEARCH METHOD

This study uses a qualitative method with a

descriptive approach. The subjects in the research are

new media and the challenges of political

communication for people with disabilities.

Researchers conducted interviews with

representatives of people with disabilities,

representatives of political parties and the General

Election Commission (KPU) in Wonogiri Regency.

3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought many changes in

social life. Before the pandemic, each individual

could meet face to face freely. However, along with

the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, people are

increasingly reducing face- to-face meetings,

avoiding crowds and always keeping their distance.

These efforts are steps to comply with health

protocols in the interest of common safety.

Facing the 2024 General Election, election

organizers and political parties have started making

preparations. In a series of election activities, political

communication such as education on voting

procedures, which candidates will be elected and

mission visas to prospective voters must still be

carried out despite this pandemic. Before the

pandemic, these activities could be carried out more

optimally offline and online.

The current pandemic condition has forced all

components involved in political education efforts to

really take advantage of media that is easily

accessible, reaches many audiences and reduces face-

to-face contact. One of the options used is utilizing

new media, maximizing the use of internet-based

communication and information technology, through

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Challenges to Realize Inclusive Elections The

following are the challenges faced in realizing

inclusive elections.

3.1 Accurate Permanent Voter Data

(DPT)

Inclusive elections start from the beginning, namely

an accurate DPT so that all people who have been able

to vote can cast their votes. To obtain an accurate

DPT, of course, requires the involvement of the

election organizers and the community itself.

Residents who have families with disabilities can also

proactively convey to the village or sub-district

authorities for more accurate data collection.

The chairman of the Wonogiri KPU, Toto

Sihsetyo Adi said that an accurate DPT would be

useful to provide access to people with disabilities.

For example, the solution to get accurate data is

Telunjuk Sakti. The Telunjuk Sakti innovation in

Wonogiri Regency is to provide population

administration services by pressing the android

button or screen on the queue machine with your

index or finger. The Information Technology (Sakti)-

based Population Administration System provides

convenience and convenience for accessing

population data.

Election organizers have tried to make efforts to

involve people with disabilities in general election

activities such as KPPS members and witnesses.

3.2 Pro Disability Policy

Inclusive elections can be realized if one of them is

supported by local city/district government policies.

Each region has a policy that can be developed or

innovated by still referring to the rules from the

center.

Local government policies play an important role

in providing support and changes in diffable

communities.

Local government support can be in the form of

organizing new media trainings for people with

disabilities, mentoring and other supports that can be

adapted to the conditions of each region.

AICOSH 2021 - The Annual International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (AICOSH) “Life After Pandemic: Perspectives,

Changes, and Challenges”

3.3 Active Involvement of Persons with

Disabilities

To speed up the process of delivering messages to

people with disabilities, election organizers cooperate

with people with disabilities, both community groups

or disabled organizations. The chairman of the

Wonogiri Blind Association (Pertuni), Suyatno,

stated the need for an active role for the disabled in

order to convey their voices to become active voters.

People with disabilities need to be pro-active so

that they will get opportunities to be involved in

realizing inclusive elections. It is necessary to be

aware of the different conditions of people with

disabilities, both in terms of human resources,

education, access, economic level and conditions of

people with disabilities.

According to the Deputy Chairman of the

Wonogiri Regency National Mandate Party (PAN),

Sardi, political communication to people with

disabilities must continue to receive attention so that

they can convey their aspirations, one man one vote.

Disabled people so that they are not politically

blind and want to continue to try to be actively

involved in elections. So, it is hoped that their

aspirations can be fought for.

3.4 Easy-to-access Information

The use of new media is carried out to expand the

reach of delivering political communication

messages, ideally, to continue to be pursued during

this pandemic. A strategy is needed in choosing the

right media so that political communication to people

with disabilities can be right on target.

For example, through disabled-controlled

applications such as Jaws and braille sound card

templates. For the deaf, the presence of a companion

who knows sign language will be very helpful when

carrying out political communications.

Head of Indonesian Blind Association (Pertuni)

Wonogiri, Suyatno saw that one of the new media that

tends to be friendly to the disabled is Facebook

because it can accommodate the needs of people with

disabilities who are deaf, blind and physically

disabled.

The ability of people with disabilities to access

new media is also not evenly distributed, for that there

needs to be assistance or training.

Diffables in one region and another cannot be

equalized equally. Especially for people with

disabilities who are in the poor category, do not go to

school and have never been in a social institution. It

is unlikely that they will understand new media.

3.5 Obey Health Protocols

Given the current pandemic period, all activities must

comply with health protocols (Prokes), namely

wearing masks, maintaining distance, avoiding

crowds and washing hands before and after activities.

This step was taken as a way to prioritize common

safety for the sake of humanity.

During this pandemic, political communication

would be wiser if it was conveyed more through new

media. The move is an attempt to reduce face-to-face

gatherings and crowds.

Face-to-face meetings can really be taken by

considering the situation and conditions of the

disabled, such as physical ability, distance of

residence, and financial side.

Toto Sihsetyo Adi, explained that before

pandemic and after the pandemic, political education

underwent changes. Physical and face-to-face

meetings began to decrease. Socialization about

elections through the sophistication of information

technology.

There are several advantages in between reach

out to more people, displaying candidate profiles

more easily can be through written news, videos and

so on. The media used are Facebook, Instagram,

Twitter and WA groups. All social media channels

are maximized.

Wonogiri KPU coordinates with administrators or

representatives of people with disabilities to find out

what media is most likely to be used during

socialization. In the previous election, the KPU

carried out an inventory of areas that were hampered

by signals, both those with difficult signals and few

signals. KPU coordinates with all election organizers

at the village level to find solutions so that

socialization runs optimally. That is looking for a

place that is easily accessible around the location with

a good signal.

4 CONCLUSION

Preparations for the 2024 General Election have

begun to be carried out by several parties, such as

political parties and election organizers. It is hoped

that in the future the implementation of elections will

improve and provide broad access to all levels of

society, including people with disabilities.

The use of new media and political

communication for people with disabilities should

New Media and Political Communication Challenges for Difable in Realizing Inclusive Election in 2024

receive more serious attention, considering that

during this pandemic, face-to-face meetings have

drastically reduced.

The use of new media and political

communication for people with disabilities must

continue to be built to build disability-friendly

elections.

The challenges faced in realizing the 2024

Inclusive Election are the availability of an accurate

permanent voter list (DPT), pro-disabled local

government policies, active involvement of people

with disabilities, easily accessible information for

people with disabilities and remaining obedient to

health protocols when meeting face-to-face.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to

Allah who has given me the strength to complete this

paper. I would like to thank all my supervisors at the

Master of Communication Studies at Sebelas Maret

University, who have supported me during this

research. Thank you so much to all the informants in

Wonogiri Regency, Central Java Province.

REFERENCES

Afifuddin.M. 2019. Membumikan Pengawasan Pemilu,

Mozaik Pandangan dan Catatan Kritis dari Dalam.

Jakarta: PT Elex Media Komputindo.

Bawaslu. 2018. Buku Saku Difabel Mengawasi Pemilu

2019. Kabupaten Jombang.

Grindle, M. S. 1980. Politics and Policy Implementation in

the Third World. New Jersey: Princenton University

Press.

Hasfi, N., Gono, J. N., & Wiwid. 2020. Internet Access and

the Potential in Facilitating Online Political

Communication of the Disabled Vol. 5 No. 1. Aspikom.

Herbowo, H. D. 2020. Implementasi Pemilu Akses di Kota

Yogyakarta. Yogyakarta, DIY, Indonesia.

Indrawan, J., Efriza, & Ilmar, A. 2020. on the Presence of

New Media (New Media) in the Political

Communication Process. the Medium Journal (online).

Vol.8 No.1.

Littlejohn, S. W. 2021. Twelfth edition Theories of Human

Communcation . United State of America: Waveland

Press.

Nimmo, D. 1989. Komunikasi Politik, Komunikator, Pesan

dan Media. Bandung: Remadja Karya.

Pawito, 2007, Penelitian Komunikasi Kualitatif,

Yogyakarta:LkiS

AICOSH 2021 - The Annual International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (AICOSH) “Life After Pandemic: Perspectives,

Changes, and Challenges”