Legal Protection of Youth Suffrage

Abstract

As a large number of young voters still have no identity card (Indonesian: Kartu Tanda Penduduk/KTP), the legal protection of youth suffrage is becoming a discourse by the General Election on 17 April 2019. Distribution of eligible citizens’ suffrage must be prevented from any obstacles, mainly administrative issue. To the young voters, as the age when registering for the vote are not old enough according to the law, the population administration office is unable to provide electronic identity cards (KTPE), resulting in them not being registered as voters. The lack of electoral literacy and the constraints of administrative requirements make the young voters vulnerable to losing their voting rights. A National Identification Number (Indonesian: Nomor Induk Kependudukan, NIK) as the single identity number of each resident is listed on the family card (Indonesian: Kartu Keluarga, KK). The ownership of NIK is proof that they have been identified as citizens so that their rights as citizens can be granted. The use of NIK as a basis for granting the right to vote for every citizen who meets the age requirements before the issuance of an identity card is the right way to give the voting rights for young voters. In principle, how can the suffrage of eligible young voters to vote be protected and implemented as normative law research uses primary and secondary legal materials as the main ingredients? The results of the study showed: firstly, it was necessary to record data earlier by visiting schools at senior level. Secondly, the young voters who have been listed in the family card and have a NIK and aged 17+ by showing a family card that can legitimately exercise their right to vote even though the identity card or residence certificate have not been published yet.