Persepsi Generasi Strawberry Terhadap Literasi Politik Pada Pilkada Calon Tunggal 2024 di Kabupaten Dharmasraya

Abstract

The phenomenon of single candidates in the 2024 Regional Elections (Pilkada) has created complex political dynamics, particularly in Dharmasraya Regency, which is contested by only one candidate pair. In this context, young voters from the Strawberry Generation play a crucial role due to their dominant presence on the final voter list. This study aims to determine the Strawberry Generation's perceptions of political literacy in single-candidate regional elections. The method used is descriptive quantitative, with data collected through a questionnaire from 100 respondents aged 19–25 in Koto Baru District. The results show that the Strawberry Generation's characteristics are high, with an average percentage of 77.9%, reflecting high creativity and adaptability to technology, although they tend to be sensitive to pressure. Meanwhile, the level of political literacy in the context of single-candidate regional elections is in the high category, with an average percentage of 80.4%. These findings indicate that the younger generation has sufficient understanding of the issue of single candidates and the existence of the empty box, but there are still gaps in technical understanding. Despite this, their political participation remains low, with an attendance rate of only 36.09%. This condition reflects the need for a more intensive, contextual, and appropriate strategy for strengthening political literacy that is tailored to the characteristics of the younger generation so that the quality of local democracy can continue to be improved.