10 Regions as PKB's Largest Vote Granaries in the 2019 General Election

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that the National Awakening Party (PKB) received 13.57 million votes in the 2019 General Election. Of this number, several regions had the highest number of PKB voters.

_Databoks_ compiled 10 regions as the main vote sources for PKB in that last election. East Java had the most, with 4.19 million votes. This region has consistently been a major contributor of votes for the party founded by Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as Gus Dur.

(Read also: [Riwayat Suara PKB di Jatim dan Nasional Sejak Pemilu 1999, Bisa Kerek Anies?](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/09/01/riwayat-suara-pkb-di-jatim-dan-nasional-sejak-pemilu-1999-bisa-kerek-anies))

Below East Java is Central Java, with 2.72 million votes in the 2019 General Election. The next largest vote source was West Java, with 1.89 million votes.

Significantly lower in fourth place is Banten, which gave 447,000 votes to PKB. Following are Lampung and Papua, with 433,000 and 399,000 votes respectively.

South Sumatra also became a significant vote source for PKB, with 317,000 votes. Close behind is Jakarta with 304,000 votes. The remaining regions had less than 270,000 votes, as shown in the graph.

Previously, PKB's General Chairperson, Muhaimin Iskandar, also known as Cak Imin, was chosen as the prospective vice-presidential candidate (bacawapres) by presidential candidate Anies Baswedan. Observers believe this choice could boost Anies's vote count in East Java and among Nahdlatul Ulama members, who historically formed PKB's largest base.

"Cak Imin has social capital and emotional ties with the people of East Java. And PKB's support is strongest in East Java compared to other provinces," said Suko Widodo, a communication and political expert from Airlangga University (Unair) in Surabaya on Friday (1/9/2023), as quoted by _Republika_.

Although PKB is very strong in East Java, this choice still requires caution because, according to another Unair political observer, Airlangga Pribadi Kusman, Cak Imin has not become a major attraction for constituents, especially Nahdliyin in the region.

"The ability to boost votes depends on internal adjustments within the pairing. Supporters must adapt when the main strength of the vice-presidential candidate's party and the political character and its supporters are not contradictory to Jokowi. That ability is what determines success," he said.

(Read also: [Bukan Cak Imin, Ini Cawapres yang Dinilai Paling Pantas Dampingi Anies Baswedan Menurut Warga](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/09/01/bukan-cak-imin-ini-cawapres-yang-dinilai-paling-pantas-dampingi-anies-baswedan-menurut-warga))