Long-distance Democracy and Political Parties in the Indonesian Overseas Elections

Abstract

Indonesia is experiencing an increase of emigrants and diasporas population. Indonesian citizens living abroad have consequences for democracy, especially on fulfilling the political right to participate in elections. The relations between the citizen-home country and participation in the election may become part of long-distance democracy. In 2009, Indonesian citizens abroad had the opportunity to participate in the direct presidential election. Then, in 2014, they also had the opportunity to participate in the legislative elections. In 2019, they experienced simultaneous presidential and legislative elections. The overseas voters’ participation in presidential elections increases, but participation in legislative elections stagnates or declines. Indonesia’s long-distance democracy has practical and theoretical implications. First, political parties are starting to consider overseas voters. Second, political parties began to build relationships with Indonesian community groups abroad, organize their communication and campaign strategies, and pay attention to the diaspora issues. Third, although the number of voters abroad is minimal compared to domestic voters, the increase in the number of emigrants and diasporas and their participation in overseas elections will bring the study of political parties in Indonesia beyond national borders. In other words, Indonesia’s long-distance democracy will bring political party studies to a transnational level.