Jakarta. Indonesian entrepreneurs have a creative approach to reducing abstention rates and encouraging citizens to exercise their voting rights in the 2024 elections. They are offering discounts to shoppers who can provide evidence of participating in the February 14 elections.

After casting their votes, citizens must dip their pinky fingers in a bottle of indelible ink. By presenting this inked mark, they become eligible for discounts at malls and restaurants. The use of election ink originated in India in the 1960s and was later adopted by several countries, including Indonesia in 1995.

Offering discounts for voters has been proven successful in helping to reduce voter abstention. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the number of abstaining voters in the 2019 elections decreased by 41 percent to 34.75 million compared to the previous period. The percentage of abstention also dropped from 30 percent of the total voters in the 2014 elections to 18 percent in 2019.

This year, entrepreneurs have collectively declared the "Klingking Fun: Discount Party, Anti-Abstention" event, aiming to reduce and encourage the public to exercise their voting rights in the 2024 elections.

The event is initiated by the Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (Apindo) with the support of the Indonesian Retailers & Shopping Center Lessee Association (Hippindo) and the Indonesian Shopping Center Management Association (APPBI).

"We hope that the abstention rate will decrease further this year. Looking at the voter demographics, 2024 has 56 percent registered young voters. So, the focus is on engaging young voters to prevent abstention," Shinta W. Kamdani, chairwoman of Apindo, said on Thursday.  

The shopping campaign will involve 800 brands, 80 outlets, and 400 malls across Indonesia. Various discounts will be offered to individuals with an inked finger as a sign of participating in the 2024 elections.

"In 2019, retailers first participated in the inaugural discount event, which was quite successful. The transactions at that time increased by tenfold, which was extraordinary. I still remember malls were completely crowded. The public was genuinely excited," Fetty Kwartati, the Acting Deputy Chairman of Hippindo, recalled.

Hippindo is predicting another tenfold increase during the 2024 election.

The event also has the support of the Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Sandiaga Uno. Sandiaga suggested expanding the discount party to recreational areas such as Ancol, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), and the Borobudur Temple.