'I'll pick the party with the most eye-catching logo'

Today Indonesians will vote for who is to represent them in legislative institutions, the first round of the country's democratic elections. Many people have complained the current political campaigns have lost their festive mood, unlike in previous elections. The Jakarta Post asked some residents how eager they were to go to the polling stations today.

Janni, 27, is a worker for a private banking firm in Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta. She lives in Setiabudi, also in South Jakarta:

I will exercise my voting rights on Monday because I have been registered as a voter in the area where I live, although I originally come from Bandung.

I think it would be a waste if I didn't vote because this only happens once every five years. However, I'm not sure which party I am going to give my vote to because I don't know much about their different policies.

Probably I will choose the party that has the most eye- catching logo with my favorite colors. I don't really care about their visions for the country or their platforms. One vote won't change the country's situation, will it?

Eldi Malayu, 52, is a taxi driver. He will cast his vote at the polling station in Ciledug, Tangerang, the area where he lives:

I don't have much enthusiasm to vote like other people. It's more like something you have to do because others do it as well. I don't think that my vote will make much difference because none of the current ruling parties have done anything to improve the country.

But I will vote anyway, as I still have hope the party who will win the majority of votes will listen to us.

I'll vote for a party whose ideological platform is based on nationalism, not religion. Politics based on religion would only cause more chaos in this multi-religious country.

Hetih, 27, is working as an editor for a publishing company in Palmerah, Central Jakarta. She lives in Jl. Gajah Mada in Central Jakarta:

I have never failed to exercise my voting rights before and I will also vote this time. I am doing it just because I want to, not because it's mandatory.

However, I haven't decided yet which party I am going to vote for since I don't have any "favorite" political party. Maybe I will decide the day before the general elections.

Risma, 21, is a student of a private university in Central Jakarta, majoring in literature. Originally from Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, she rents a room in Pejompongan, also in Central Jakarta.

This would be my first time voting but I don't have a voter card because I'm not registered here, so I will skip this round of the elections. But I will vote in the presidential election.

If I did go to the polling station on Monday, I would take more than 30 minutes in the booth because I have no idea which party or legislative candidates deserve my vote.

--The Jakarta Post