<![CDATA[The phenomenon of the empty ballot in the 2024 Regional Head Election (Pilkada) of Brebes Regency attracted significant public attention after receiving 341,407 votes (40.4%), while voter turnout reached only 58.27%, the lowest participation rate in Central Java. This study aims to describe the Empty Ballot Movement as a form of protest voting by employing a qualitative method involving 15 informants, consisting of the movement's leader, community leaders, volunteers, and residents. The findings reveal that the movement emerged as a response to dissatisfaction with local democracy, driven by three main factors: the dominance of oligarchic politics that produced a single-candidate election through the consolidation of political party support; the perception that the sole candidate represented a political dynasty due to connections with former officials previously implicated in corruption cases; and the proposed IDR 13,000 shallot price policy, which was perceived as harmful to farmers. The Empty Ballot Movement successfully garnered public sympathy and became a symbol of protest voting against political practices regarded as undemocratic.]]>
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