Millennials’ Political Preference: A Case Study in the 2019 Indonesian Presidential Election

Abstract

Political preference in electoral competition is regarded as a basis for political actualisation. It is an indicator that democracy is well-established. This study aims to investigate the political preferences of the millennials generation (MG) in the 2019 Indonesian Presidential election (IPE). A quantitative approach using survey methods was employed as the research design. This study was conducted during July to November 2019, in Medan, Indonesia. The sample of this study is 300 millennials as respondents who were gained through accidental sampling originating from the Universitas Sumatera Utara and the Universitas Negeri Medan, Indonesia. In order to obtain the data, the questionnaire was employed with open and closed question types. The results showed that the political preferences of the MG remain influenced by psychological, sociological, and rational choice factors. They collect information from the media and other literatures. They assess the performance of the government and the work programs of the candidates that might be realised, as well as the possibilities of whether they benefit themselves and the public.