Political Communication and the Right to Information: Fulfilling the Public's Right to Information on Elections in the 2024 Bali Regional Elections

Authors

  • Ni Wayan Widhiasthini Universitas Pendidikan Nasional, Indonesia
  • Made Srinitha Millinia Utami Edith Cowan University, Australia
  • Nyoman Sri Subawa Universitas Pendidikan Nasional, Indonesia
  • Nyoman Sridiva Dian Prabarini Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15575/politicon.v8i1.53960

Keywords:

Political communication, electoral politics , electoral information integrity , deliberative communication , digital civic engagement , political media culture , local democracy

Abstract

This study aims to critically analyze how political communication practices carried out by the General Election Commission (KPU), regional head candidates, and the mass media contribute to fulfilling the public's right to electoral information in the context of local democracy in Bali. Using a qualitative approach with an exploratory case study design, this study combines data from in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and digital content analysis to examine the relationship between transparency, political communication, and public participation in the 2024 Bali Regional Elections. The results show that the Bali KPU has made efforts to fulfill the principle of the right to information through the provision of digital channels, the publication of electoral data, and cooperation with local media. However, the communication patterns that have been established are still one-way and lack deliberation. Meanwhile, candidates' political communication strategies are dominated by image-based and symbolic politics approaches that emphasize image and emotional slogans over policy program substance, creating information asymmetry between candidates and voters. Local media and digital spaces also do not fully serve as vehicles for political education, but rather as arenas for electoral promotion. This study confirms the gap between formal and substantive transparency in local political communication practices. Therefore, the fulfillment of the public's right to electoral information needs to be realized through more educational, participatory, and interactive political communication. This study contributes to the development of academic discourse on information politics and public accountability and provides practical implications for strengthening transparent and integrity-based local democracy

Author Biographies

Ni Wayan Widhiasthini, Universitas Pendidikan Nasional

Ni Wayan Widhiasthini is a Senior Lecturer at Universitas Pendidikan Nasional, specializing in Administrative Reform. Recent works could be seen in her Google Scholar

Made Srinitha Millinia Utami, Edith Cowan University

Made Srinitha Millinia Utami is an active researcher in the field of information technology. Currently pursuing Ph.D program at Edith Cowan University, Australia. Recent works could be seen in her Google Scholar

Nyoman Sri Subawa, Universitas Pendidikan Nasional

Nyoman Sri Subawa has published numerous articles in various internationally renowned journals. Recent works could be seen in her Google Scholar

Nyoman Sridiva Dian Prabarini, Saxion University of Applied Sciences

Nyoman Sridiva Dian Prabarini has an interest in the field of reform. She is an a final-year International Business student at Saxion University of Applied Sciences. Recent works could be seen in her linked in https://nl.linkedin.com/in/nyoman-sridiva-dian-prabarini  

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Published

2026-03-31

How to Cite

Widhiasthini, N. W., Utami, M. S. M., Subawa, N. S., & Prabarini, N. S. D. (2026). Political Communication and the Right to Information: Fulfilling the Public’s Right to Information on Elections in the 2024 Bali Regional Elections. Politicon : Jurnal Ilmu Politik, 8(1), 131–159. https://doi.org/10.15575/politicon.v8i1.53960

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026): Politicon : Jurnal Ilmu Politik

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Copyright (c) 2026 Ni Wayan Widhiasthini, Made Srinitha Millinia Utami, Nyoman Sri Subawa, Nyoman Sridiva Dian Prabarini

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