People have the final say on election day

Millions of Indonesians thronged polling stations nationwide to cast their votes for candidates for a new upper house of the national legislature called the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), the House of Representatives (DPR), the Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD I) and the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD II).

Some 148 million registered voters were expected to turn out to select 128 candidates for the DPD and over 7,000 candidates for the legislative bodies at the national, provincial, regental and municipal levels.

An official of the General Elections Commission (KPU) hinted that the computerized tabulation of the legislative election would be completed on April 19, or two weeks after the election day. -- JP

Photo A Caption

JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

Chief of the European Union (EU) election monitoring team Glyn Ford (left) witnesses a voter dropping his ballot paper into the ballot box at a polling station in Bukit Duri area, South Jakarta. The EU team also conducted monitoring in regions nationwide.

Photo B and C Caption

JP/P.J. Leo JP/Suherjoko

Blind voters of the Bina Netra Cahaya Batin foundation in Cawang area, East Jakarta, (photo right) participate in the legislative election by casting their votes at a nearby polling station. Meanwhile, Rejo, 65, a prisoner who was convicted of sexual abuse, drops his ballot paper into the box provided at the Kedung Pane Penitentiary in Semarang, Central Java.

Photo D, E, F Caption

JP/Mulkan Salmona

JP/Nethy Dharma Somba

JP/Arief Suhardiman

A local election committee official (top right) helps an aging voter at a polling station in Gondangdia, Central Jakarta. The man was unable to stand to place his ballot in the box. While a voter takes time to study the legislative candidates displayed on a sizable 2004 ballot paper (photo above), voters in the Papua provincial capital of Jayapura stand in line to cast their votes (photo right).