Aceh – Indonesia, The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of Nagan Raya Regency is strengthening democracy education for the younger generation through the “Bawaslu Saweu Sikula” program.

The program targets high school students as first-time voters, encouraging them to understand the importance of participatory oversight.

As part of the initiative, Nagan Raya Bawaslu officials visited three schools: SMA Negeri 1 Kuala, SMA Negeri 1 Seunagan, and SMA Negeri 1 Beutong.

Bawaslu commissioners also served as flag ceremony leaders on Monday morning.

The event provided a platform for Bawaslu to directly educate students on preserving democratic integrity, identifying potential election violations, and remaining critical toward political information circulating in the digital space.

One of the main topics addressed was the threat of money politics and the spread of fake news or hoaxes, which first-time voters need to understand. Bawaslu also urged students to look beyond just casting ballots and actively engage in participatory observation within their families and communities.

First-Time Voters Are More Than Just Numbers

Nagan Raya Bawaslu member Ibnu Sabil, delivering his address as ceremony leader, emphasized that the youth hold a crucial position in democratic life. According to him, as most high school students will soon become first-time voters, early electoral literacy is vital.

“First-time voters are not merely statistical figures on the Final Voter List (DPT). More than that, they represent fresh energy and a moral force capable of driving clean, honest, fair, and dignified elections,” said Ibnu Sabil.

He called on students not to stay passive when facing electoral issues. Students are encouraged to fearlessly report suspected violations through available official channels whenever they uncover practices that risk undermining the democratic process.

Furthermore, students were advised to carefully filter social media information to avoid falling prey to hoaxes and misleading content.

Nationally, Bawaslu positions participatory oversight as a key instrument in preventing election violations. Education for first-time voters covers topics like money politics, fake news, black campaigns, and the vital role of public involvement in election monitoring.

SMAN 1 Seunagan Welcomes Initiative

The Principal of SMA Negeri 1 Seunagan, Raudhah Fariza, S.Pd., M.Pd., expressed appreciation for bringing the Bawaslu Saweu Sikula program to her school.

She noted that democracy education is essential for students, as many will be casting their votes for the first time in the near future.

“We warmly welcome the outreach conducted by Nagan Raya Bawaslu. With around 700 students at SMAN 1 Seunagan who will soon become first-time voters, early democratic education is crucial so their voices are not easily manipulated by irresponsible parties,” Raudhah stated.

She added that the school remains open to building synergies with Bawaslu for future educational and awareness-raising programs.

Encouraging Students to Monitor Elections

Through the Saweu Sikula program, Nagan Raya Bawaslu hopes democracy education goes beyond understanding voting rights. Students are expected to comprehend their civic rights and duties while contributing to a healthy democratic environment.

Participatory oversight engages the community directly in preventing and monitoring potential election infractions.

Bawaslu continues to push young voters to reject money politics, refrain from spreading hoaxes, and report alleged violations through the appropriate channels.

Nagan Raya Bawaslu hopes these ongoing educational efforts will foster smart, critical, and principled first-time voters who recognize the importance of safeguarding democratic quality.

From school grounds, this awareness is expected to spread to families and the wider community, enabling Nagan Raya’s youth to be not just participants in democracy, but responsible guardians of its execution. []