Pesantren as Spaces of Political Communication: Candidate Visits and First-Time Voters in Indonesia’s 2024 Election

Abstract This study aims to understand how direct encounters between presidential candidates and first-time voters in Islamic boarding schools ( pesantren) shape political perceptions in the context of Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election. Amid the growing dominance of digitally mediated political communication, face-to-face interaction between political actors and citizens remains an important experience for first-time voters in recognizing candidates and understanding political leadership. This study employed a qualitative case study approach conducted in three pesantren in Surabaya that were visited by presidential candidates during the campaign period. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 12 santri as first-time voters and three pesantren administrators, supported by observation and documentation. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to understand santri ’s experiences of political communication. The findings show that presidential candidates’ visits to pesantren help first-time voters recognize candidates, build political proximity, and form perceptions of candidates’ leadership character. These perceptions were shaped through interpersonal communication experiences, including how candidates interacted with santri and the pesantren community. The study highlights that direct political encounters remain an important element in shaping first-time voters’ political perceptions, particularly within religious educational environments.