Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis penerapan e-voting sebagai inovasi digital dalam pemilihan kepala desa di Kota Banda Aceh serta mengidentifikasi faktor-faktor yang memengaruhinya. Latar belakang penelitian ini didasari oleh perkembangan teknologi digital yang mendorong transformasi sistem pemerintahan menuju tata kelola yang lebih efektif, efisien, dan transparan. Namun demikian, penerapan e-voting masih menghadapi beragam tantangan, baik dari sisi regulasi, kesiapan infrastruktur, maupun penerimaan sosial masyarakat. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif dengan teknik pengumpulan data melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi, dan dokumentasi. Informan penelitian meliputi pihak Diskominfotik, Dinas Pemberdayaan Masyarakat dan Gampong (DPMG), aparatur gampong, akademisi, dan masyarakat. Analisis dilakukan dengan menggunakan teori difusi inovasi dari Everett M. Rogers yang mencakup lima indikator: Keunggulan Relatif, kesesuaian, tingkat kesulitan, kemudahan uji coba dan kemampuan untuk di amati. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa e-voting memiliki potensi untuk diterapkan karena lebih efisien, cepat, dan hemat biaya, tetapi implementasinya belum optimal. Faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi penerapan meliputi literasi digital, keamanan dan kepercayaan masyarakat, regulasi dan kebijakan pemerintah, budaya dan kebiasaan masyarakat, serta kesiapan anggaran dan infrastruktur. Oleh karena itu, penerapan e-voting di Kota Banda Aceh perlu dilaksanakan secara bertahap melalui uji coba, sosialisasi, dan penguatan regulasi agar dapat berjalan efektif dan diterima secara luas.
Kata Kunci: e-voting, inovasi digital, pemilihan kepala desa, literasi digital, Kota Banda Aceh.

This study aims to analyze the implementation of e-voting as a digital innovation in village head elections in Banda Aceh City and to identify the factors influencing its adoption. The background of this study is driven by the rapid development of digital technology, which encourages the transformation of governance systems toward greater effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency. However, the implementation of e-voting still faces various challenges, including regulatory issues, infrastructure readiness, and public acceptance. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method, with data collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The informants include representatives from the Department of Communication, Informatics and Statistics (Diskominfotik), the Department of Community and Village Empowerment (DPMG), village officials, academics, and the community. The analysis is conducted using the Diffusion of Innovation theory by Everett M. Rogers, which consists of five indicators: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. The results indicate that e-voting has strong potential to be implemented due to its efficiency, speed, and cost-effectiveness; however, its implementation has not yet been optimal. The influencing factors include digital literacy, security and public trust, government regulations and policies, socio-cultural habits, as well as budget and infrastructure readiness. Therefore, the implementation of e-voting in Banda Aceh City should be carried out gradually through pilot projects, public socialization, and strengthened regulatory frameworks to ensure effective execution and broader acceptance. Keywords: e-voting, digital innovation, village head election, digital literacy, Banda Aceh City.