PENANGGULANGAN MONEY POLITICS DALAM PEMILIHAN KEPALA DAERAH DI KOTA MALANG (Studi Kasus di Badan Pengawas Pemilu Kota Malang)

Money politics generally refers to efforts aimed at influencing voters during elections through the provision of material rewards. These rewards may take the form of direct cash payments, goods or donations, basic necessities, or promises and incentives intended to secure political advantage. This phenomenon is often associated with transactional political practices, particularly during electoral contests. This research examines the mitigation of money politics as a criminal offense in the implementation of regional head elections in Malang City, focusing on the efforts undertaken by the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) of Malang. The objective of this study is to analyze the causes of money politics practices and the strategies applied by Bawaslu in addressing them. The research employs a socio-legal approach with qualitative methods, based on observational data, interviews, and literature studies. The findings indicate that money politics in Malang is driven by economic vulnerability, low levels of political education, and weak supervision and community participation. Although Bawaslu has performed supervisory and law enforcement functions through special legal procedures, it still faces significant challenges, including evidentiary issues, limited resources, and a lack of public reporting. Therefore, effective mitigation requires synergy between legal enforcement, public awareness, and strong preventive policies.