Colorful elections
Pilkada -- an abbreviation meaning local leaders' elections -- has become a buzzword among Indonesians today. It involves the direct election of governors, mayors and regents.
Given the various customs of the regions, people conduct and celebrate the polling day in their own ways. And given that these are the first direct local leaders' elections ever held in Indonesia's 60-year history, some imperfections have inevitably occurred.
While voters in Solo, Central Java, eagerly cast their votes at polling stations, many residents in Semarang abstained from the historic event.
Some Papuans were still unregistered on polling day.
Widely known as soccer enthusiasts, Surabaya residents in East Java played a soccer-type game at a polling station.
After all, that's democracy. Like soccer, democracy must show fairness amidst competition.
-- The Jakarta Post
Photo A: Election
JP/ID Nugroho
A polling station in Kebonsari, Surabaya, is decorated with soccer attributes. Polling committee members wore soccer uniforms while voters had the chance to kick a ball to win snacks.
Photo B: Election
JP/Nethy Dharma Somba
Four blind people in Jayapura, Papua, stay at home on polling day. The poll committee did not register certain blind people for some unknown reason.
Photo C: Election
JP/Blontank Poer
The Klewer traditional market in Solo, Central Java, stopped trading on polling day. Vendors closed their shops to cast their ballots as well as to anticipate possible rioting. Solo was among the hardest hit by riots in May 1998.
Photo D: Election
JP/Ruslan Sangadji
A church in Poso, Central Sulawesi, functions as a polling station. Residents wait their turn to cast ballot.
Photo E: Election
JP/Andi Hajramurni
The Gowa election committee provided special polling stations in 16 spots to ensure that local people who were not issued with voter registration cards could participate in the ballot.
Photo F: Election
JP/Suherdjoko
A poll witness checks the validity of a ballot paper at a polling station in Semarang, Central Java. About 60 people abstain from the polling station to protest against the local administration.