The Role of the Subulussalam City Community Care Movement in Instilling Islamic Educational Values among First-Time Voters
Abstract
The increasing number of first-time voters presents both opportunities and challenges for local democracy, particularly in Muslim-majority societies. First-time voters are often vulnerable to unethical political practices due to limited experience and political literacy. This study examines the role of the Gerakan Masyarakat Peduli Kota Subulussalam (GEMAPKOS) in internalizing Islamic educational values among first-time voters in Subulussalam City, Indonesia. Employing a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis involving community leaders, educators, youth participants, and organizational actors. The findings reveal that GEMAPKOS systematically instills core Islamic values such as aqidah, ibadah, akhlak, amanah, shidiq, fathanah, ukhuwah, and responsibility through structured mechanisms, including habituation, role modeling, dialogic learning, social engagement, and formal codification. These processes contribute to the formation of an Islamic political habitus characterized by honesty, critical awareness, discipline, and ethical responsibility in political participation. The study highlights the strategic role of local civil society organizations in bridging Islamic moral education and democratic practice, offering an empirically grounded model for strengthening ethical political participation among first-time voters.
References
Abba, U. E., & Ojiako, C. I. (2026). Democratic Governance and Citizen Participation in Nigeria: The Role of State Legislators. Journal of Emerging Trends in Management Sciences and Entrepreneurship, 8(2), 1-11.
Adofo, A. (2022). Empowering youth who care about democracy: Introducing general elections to first-time voters. Journal of Universal Community Empowerment Provision, 2(3), 74–78. https://doi.org/10.55885/jucep.v2i3.255
Ahmad, J., Wisnarni, K. A., Alam, M., Hayat, A. P., Prasetia, A. T., & Hajar, R. I. (2026). Mapping the Political Awareness of Gen Z Students: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed-Methods Study. Journal of Hunan University Natural Sciences, 53(5). https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.53.5.11
Al-Hamdi, R., & Sofyan, N. (2023). To what extent political education can influences young voters’ perceptions? Journal of Government and Civil Society, 7(1), 119. https://doi.org/10.31000/jgcs.v7i1.7259
Ardiansyah, S., Yorman, Y., & Rassyi, S. F. (2026). Digital Citizenship Education for Good Governance: A Character-Based Approach Rooted in Local Wisdom. Innovations in Pedagogy and Technology, 2 (1) https://doi.org/10.63385/ipt.v2i1.223
Bartlett, T., & Yemini, M. (2025). Exploring extracurricular clubs in high schools as third spaces for developing youth activism and critical engagement. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 35(2), e70034. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.70034
Bukhari, S. R. H., Khan, H. A., Khan, A. U., Haq, I. U., & Hussian, E. (2024). Political education and civic engagement in Pakistan: A critical analysis of curriculum, pedagogy, and youth participation. Qlantic Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 5(4), 234-247. https://doi.org/10.55737/qjssh.v-iv.24274
Bunthawee, J. (2025). Integrating Religious Principles into Education for Enhancing Quality of Life in Contemporary Society. Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Innovation, 2(1), 27-45.
Chauke, T. A. (2022). An exploration of youth political disengagement in the City of Cape Town. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 11(6), 271. https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2022-0167
Fadillah, F., Sumarna, C., & Yunita, Y. (2022). Penanaman nilai-nilai demokrasi melalui pembelajaran IPS sub pokok pluralitas: Studi kasus di SMP Islam Terpadu Nuurusshidiiq Kota Cirebon. Asanka Journal of Social Science and Education, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.21154/asanka.v3i2.4876
Goyon, R. P., & Legaspi, C. E. I. (2020). Moral reasoning and political leader preference of senior high school students of a private school. Philippine Social Science Journal, 3(2), 81–82. https://doi.org/10.52006/main.v3i2.216
Greenwald, Y., Katsoty, D., Ben-Nun Bloom, P., & Knafo-Noam, A. (2026). Forming and changing opinions about hostage negotiations during war: Early attitudes, political orientation and emotional connection to hostages’ families. Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, 21(2), 257-274. https://doi.org/10.1080/18335330.2026.2640064
Hendrik, H. (2022). Peran organisasi masyarakat sipil dalam pengelolaan keragaman di sekolah. Jurnal Penelitian Kebijakan Pendidikan, 15(1), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.24832/jpkp.v15i1.592
Jakandar, L. I. E., Pantiwati, Y., Sunaryo, H., & Fikriah, A. (2025). Integration of religious values in character education: Building the morals of the golden generation. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 9(1), 124-141. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v9i1.107
Jumardin, J., Purwanda, S., Syam, E. S., & Tijjang, B. (2026). Money Politics and Electoral Integrity in Local Democracy: A Case Study of Legislative Elections in Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi (2019–2024). DIKTUM: Jurnal Syariah dan Hukum, 24(1), 117-129. https://doi.org/10.35905/diktum.v24i2.16227
Juthi, R. Z., Muzahid, M. A. U., & Molla, R. I. (2025). Religious morality in education for serving the purpose of our life. Islamic University Journal of Social Sciences, 4(3), 310-340.
Landemore, H. (2020). Open democracy: Reinventing popular rule for the twenty-first century. Princeton University Press.
Magagula, V. (2025). The participation paradox: Analysing community disengagement through dependency theory. Development Southern Africa. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2025.2528026
Mravik, P. (2025). Patterns of participation in the college movement: tendencies of political socialization of the youth in 1980s Hungary. Journal of Contemporary Central and Eastern Europe, 33(3), 693-712. https://doi.org/10.1080/25739638.2025.2557802
Mulyawan, W., Rifai, R., & Hidayat, R. (2024). Factors influencing first-time voters' turnout in the 2024 legislative elections: Political efficacy, campaign strategies, and financial incentives. The International Journal of Politics and Sociology Research, 12(2), 157-168. https://doi.org/10.35335/ijopsor.v12i2.266
Munawarah, R., & Kristanto, A. A. (2022). Alienasi pemuda dalam politik: Peran nilai dan kepercayaan politik pada partisipasi politik pemilih pemula. Psikoborneo: Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi, 10(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.30872/psikoborneo.v10i1.7081
Munir, A. J., & Zaidi, Z. H. (2023). Institutionalizing civic engagement through skilled civic education: A critical analysis of youth development and education policies in Punjab Pakistan. Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies, 9(4), 527-538. https://doi.org/10.26710/jbsee.v9i4.2863
Najwa, C. S., Muliawati, M., & Putri, A. (2024). Pengaruh pendidikan politik terhadap partisipasi pemilih pemula pada Pemilu 2019 di Kota Banda Aceh. JPS, 5(2), 93–112. https://doi.org/10.24815/jps.v5i2.43290
OKUNOYE, J. O., & ADEIWA, L. A. (2026). A RELIETHICAL PRESSURES AND MORAL COMPROMISE IN CHRISTIAN POLITICAL PRACTICE IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA. Rivers State University Journal of Religious and Cultural Studies (RiSUJORACS), 1(1), 231-245.
Pinandhita, P., Salsabila, L., & Arsyad, S. N. (2025). Youth Activists and Democracy: A Literature Review of Contributions to the Transformation of Critical Citizenship. Jurnal Ilmiah Mimbar Demokrasi, 24(2), 526-531.
Rafiqi, F., & Hastira, M. F. (2026). The role of AIPA in mediating ethnic conflicts in Myanmar after the 2021 coup: A normative constructivist perspective. International Journal of Humanity Studies (IJHS), 9(2), 310-320. https://doi.org/10.24071/ijhs.v9i2.60
Rosyad, A. M., & Ma`arif, M. A. (2020). Paradigma pendidikan demokrasi dan pendidikan Islam dalam menghadapi tantangan globalisasi di Indonesia. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 3(1), 75–99. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v3i1.491
Saud, M., & Ashfaq, A. (2025). Shift from traditional to contemporary political patterns: Knowing the youth perspectives on political participation. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 60(6), 3474-3494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2023.101904
Sitanggang, P. B., Ancok, D., Kuncoroyakti, Y. A., & Lubis, A. Y. (2024). The relationship between political image and voting behavior in first-time voters: Demographics of generation Z voters in the 2024 election in Indonesia. International Journal of Social Science and Education Research Studies, 4(6), 461-467.
Srirejeki, K., & Khairurrizqo. (2025). The role of community engagement as corruption control strategy in local governments: Insights from Indonesia. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 38(7). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-12-2024-0407
Suhartono, S., Pahrudin, A., & Tasdiq. (2024). Demokrasi pendidikan Islam di perguruan tinggi. Titian Ilmu: Jurnal Ilmiah Multi Sciences, 16(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.30599/jti.v16i1.3250
Suleman, M. A., Idayanti, Z., Hulkin, M., Siagian, A. A., Rangkuti, K. H., & Putri, N. (2025). Shaping Honest Citizens: Reframing Anti-Corruption Education in Primary Schools for a Culture of Integrity. Cendekiawan: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Studi Keislaman, 4(1), 644-658. https://doi.org/10.61253/cendekiawan.v4i1.325
Sumadiyah, S., Jumari, J., Haris, A., & Mansur, R. (2023). Demokrasi perspektif filsafat pendidikan Barat dan Islam. Sustainable: Jurnal Kajian Mutu Pendidikan, 6(2), 824–830. https://doi.org/10.32923/kjmp.v6i2.4220
Syafika, W., & Marwa, N. (2024). The evolution of values-based education: Bringing global insights and local practices to a sustainable future. Sinergi International Journal of Education, 2(4), 238-252. https://doi.org/10.61194/education.v2i4.589
Taylor, C. (2021). The politics of recognition in campus wars. Routledge.
Utaminingsih, S., & Rachmawaty, S. (2023). Peran budaya organisasi dalam membentuk sikap tanggung jawab sosial guru PAUD. Jurnal Obsesi: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 7(6), 6808–6817. https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v7i6.5591
Warsah, I., & Istan, M. (2025). Islamic religious education learning approach based on religious moderation. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 9(1), 181-199. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v9i1.45
White, N. J. (2017). The settlement of decolonization and post-colonial economic development: Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore compared. Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde, 173(2/3), 208–241.
Wijaya, M. H., Sutrisni, K., & Hamzah, M. S. B. (2026). From procedural to substantive morality: Participation problem on lawmaking in Indonesia. Journal of Sustainable Development and Regulatory Issues (JSDERI), 4(1), 304-338. https://doi.org/10.53955/jsderi.v4i1.231
Yitbarek, K., Osho, G. S., Blyden, L., Adams, M. O., & Ojumu, M. (2026). Gendered Social Capital and the Political Economy of Unequal Educational Outcomes in Ethiopia. Journal of Public Administration, 8(1), 01-13.
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal La Edusci
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
