Abstract:
This study seeks to analyze and describe the voting behavior of female college students for a
female candidate at Banjarmasin Mayoral Election in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. This
election is special because it was held during the pandemic where political campaigns were
mostly switched to communication and information technology with a lack of mass gatherings
and direct political campaigns due to Covid-19 health protocols. In a predominantly Muslim
and highly patriarchal society, this is also the second time in this province to have a female
candidate for this position and the first time for this city. Amidst the negative stereotypes of a
female candidate and the attacks from the opponents, this female candidate managed to gain
second place. Disputes emerged, and the court decided to held re-election in three sub-districts.
The disputes and the campaign dynamics show how a female candidate is perceived by this
society at large. This study elaborates the possible affecting factors in voting behavior, i.e., the
role of religious interpretation, ethnicity, gender, the role of media, perceptions of voters related
to candidate’s age and programs, political party affiliation, the role of family, and peers. This
research is based on online surveys and interviews of Lambung Mangkurat University students,
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia where the election was held. The selection for
college student respondents is aimed to relatively control the variables of education, age, and
socioeconomic factors of voters which are also often considered affecting variables in voting
behavior.
