Table 1_Innovating electoral metrics: a multidimensional statistical model of the Indonesian Electoral Participation Index (IPP).xlsx

IntroductionElectoral participation is often measured solely by voter turnout, which obscures how citizens interact with electoral institutions before, during, and after election day. This study introduces the Indonesian Electoral Participation Index (IPP) to capture multidimensional, sub-national patterns of engagement across the electoral cycle.
MethodsUsing verified administrative records from the General Elections Commission’s Siparmas system for the 2024 general election, we construct a formative composite index from 15 indicators of citizen engagement and institutional performance across the preparation, administration, and post-election phases in 38 provinces. The IPP is validated through factor analysis, internal diagnostics, correlations with voter turnout, internet access and other contextual variables, and robustness checks including alternative weighting schemes and transformations.
ResultsIPP scores reveal pronounced territorial disparities. Western provinces systematically outperform eastern ones, and participation is strongest in post-election engagement. Average provincial scores are preparation 61.40; administration 60.14; and post-election 68.48. Yielding a national IPP mean of national IPP = 63.43. The index correlates strongly with turnout and moderately with internet access and provincial income, but only weakly with territorial size.
DiscussionConceptually, the IPP reframes electoral participation as a process of co-production between citizens and electoral institutions across the electoral cycle. Practically, it provides policymakers with a transparent, replicable diagnostic tool for evaluating institutional performance, identifying sub-national inequalities, and targeting reforms in Indonesia and other decentralised democracies.