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Vote-buying only influences 11% of voters: SMRC survey
A survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) shows that money politics is ineffective in influencing voters for the 2024 election.
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Two children walk past a 2024 general election-themed mural in Pandeglang, Banten, on March 6, 2023. The mural was aimed at encouraging people to participate in the 2024 general election and avoid vote-buying tactics. (Antara/Muhammad Bagus Khoirunas)
Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) said its survey found that vote-buying strategies employed in the 2024 election would be ineffective and costly due to the disproportionate impact it had compared with expectations.
The survey was conducted in November and asked respondents about the practice of giving money or gifts by presidential or legislative candidates.
SMRC founder Saiful Mujani explained that out of the 44 percent of the public who perceived vote-buying as acceptable, only 26 percent were likely to be influenced. This 26 percent represented approximately 11 percent of the total respondents.
This indicates that transactional politics may only be effective in approximately one out of 10 cases.
Saiful says this uncertainty was what necessitated politicians holding a significant amount of funds for campaigning during the electoral period.
He added that the strategy of vote-buying was challenging to execute effectively because electoral participants still determined the specific individuals and their voting location after receiving the distributed funds or gifts.
"This is because they don't know exactly who can be truly influenced and where," Saiful said during a virtual discussion on Thursday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
