Study of Media Exposure, Symbolic Interaction, and Electoral Effects in Regional Head Elections

Election for Regional Heads and Deputy Regional Heads is to elect Regional Heads and Deputy Regional Heads within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. Prior to the enactment of Law Number 32 of 2004 concerning Regional Government, Regional Heads and Representatives Regional heads are elected by the Regional People s Representative Council (DPRD). However, since June 2005 Indonesia has adopted a system of direct regional head elections. So that the obligation to elect a regional head is not only given to the people s representatives (DPRD) but all people who are domiciled in their respective regions are responsible for choosing leaders in their regions. This study uses a survey method to answer the question. Is there a negative impact of media coverage about the provision of Hand Sanitisser with a picture of the incumbent candidate who is the assistance from the central government in winning the Klaten Regent? The results showed that media exposure in the form of negative news had a negative impact on the electability of regional leader candidates. Meanwhile, the results of the study also found that the negative news actually increased his popularity as a candidate who participated in the regional head election contestation in Klaten Regency by 97%. From the findings in the field, it can be concluded that there is no negative effect on hand sanitizers distributed by Klaten Regent Sri Mulyani ahead of the regional elections in Klaten Regency. In fact, with the distribution, Sri Mulyani s electability rate was very high at 51% percent. The negative media coverage of the hand sanitizer by the Klaten Regent to the community also did not have a negative effect.