From Vote Buying to Turnout Buying: Clientelistic Network and Electoral Mobilization in the Border of Merauke, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22225/politicos.6.2.2026.221-238Keywords:
Patronage; Clientelism Network; Turnout Buying; Legislative; Merauke.Abstract
Studies on electoral patronage in Indonesia have highlighted the importance of material distribution and broker networks in voter mobilization. However, the relationship between the timing of reward distribution and the securing of support as reflected in final election outcomes remains under-examined. This article investigates this issue through a case study of candidates from migrant communities running for the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in the 2024 election within the Merauke electoral district, South Papua. The research employs a qualitative methodology, incorporating case studies and in-depth interviews with candidates and their campaign teams. The findings reveal that political patronage operates through three primary mechanisms: the provision of personal gifts, the distribution of collective goods (*club goods*), and the mobilization of voter turnout (turnout buying). The *turnout buying* strategy extends beyond mere *vote buying* by more effectively engaging loyal voters in border areas a demographic typically characterized by political apathy. Clientelist networks formed through campaign teams play a crucial role in coordinating, distributing, and maintaining citizens' political loyalty. The study indicates that a candidate's success is influenced by financial resources, the ability to build trust-based social networks, ethnic connections, and effective voter-mapping strategies. Amidst the complex ethnic and social landscape of South Papua, patronage practices serve as an electoral mechanism while simultaneously reflecting the local power dynamics and socio-economic dependencies that shape patron-client political relationships. This study substantially enriches the understanding of clientelism-driven electoral politics in Indonesia's newly autonomous regions. It contributes to the field by elucidating the relationship between the timing of vote-related rewards and final election outcomes within the context of electoral clientelism.
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