Member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives Rycko Menoza, stated that political education for first-time voters needs to be carried out continuously as an effort to improve the quality of democracy in Indonesia and to produce a generation of responsible voters.
"We hope that through this ongoing education, the quality of future elections will be better, both from the perspective of the people who vote and the figures who are elected," said Rycko Menoza when confirmed in Bandarlampung, Saturday.
According to him, as a member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) who partners with election organizers, outreach activities within the community have a strategic role in increasing political literacy, especially for first-time voters who will exercise their right to vote for the first time.
He said political education must be able to provide the public with an understanding of the importance of one vote in determining the direction of regional and national development.
Rycko explained that the direct democracy system in Indonesia has been implemented since 2004, so evaluation of its implementation needs to be continuously carried out to improve the quality of elections, both in terms of the maturity of the public in exercising their voting rights and the integrity of the elected leaders.
He urged first-time voters, including Generation Z, to exercise their right to vote responsibly, as every vote cast will determine the future of economic development, infrastructure, and public welfare.
"Their single vote will have a significant impact on the future of the region, the province, and even the nation. We certainly don't want a region's growth and development to be slowed simply because its leaders violate their mandate and become embroiled in legal issues," he said.
He added that various public policies that have a direct impact on people's lives, such as fuel prices, basic necessities prices, and infrastructure development, are the result of political decisions determined through a democratic process.
According to him, increasing political awareness among young voters is an important factor in choosing leaders who are clean, accountable, and have integrity, so they are able to maintain the stability of regional and national development.
