SHAH ALAM, July 10 — Young voters, who make up 48 per cent of the electorate in the 16th Johor state election, are increasingly prioritising candidates over political parties.
According to the Ilham Centre's executive summary of voting patterns, first-time voters exhibited this trend despite many lacking a deep understanding of politics.
The study also found that they viewed voting as a civic responsibility but had yet to develop strong loyalty towards any particular political party.
"Another important characteristic is that they are a group of 'late deciders'. Political decisions are usually finalised only towards the end of the campaign period after they have assessed the candidates, followed developments on social media, and discussed issues with their peers.
"This pattern results in shifts in support among young voters occurring rapidly and remaining difficult to predict until polling day," it said.
Ilham Centre also found that the influence of traditional family voting preferences had become increasingly minimal among young voters, while party identity was no longer the dominant factor in determining their choice.
Instead, they placed greater emphasis on a candidate's communication skills, service record, visibility within the constituency and on social media, and commitment to resolving local issues.
"As a result, last-minute decisions among young voters often produce a more evenly split distribution of support that is difficult to predict, without giving any political bloc a decisive advantage," it said.
The study also found that incumbents with a proven track record, who were accessible to the public and actively engaged with constituents, enjoyed higher levels of trust, including among young voters.
A candidate's track record had become a far more valuable political asset than party branding, while new candidates faced greater challenges in introducing themselves and demonstrating their capabilities.
"The short campaign period means many new candidates are still struggling to build name recognition, credibility, and voter confidence.
"In contests that are increasingly centred on candidates, individual strengths have become the key determining factor, particularly in marginal seats with a high proportion of young voters," Ilham Centre said.
Scheduled to take place tomorrow, the Johor state election will see 172 candidates from various political coalitions contesting, with voter turnout expected to reach 70 per cent.
