Indonesia’s global diaspora of just over 2 million people has begun casting their votes for the election of the country’s next president.
The opening of ballots in 131 cities around the world is the first stage of a massive logistical operation for the election on Wednesday, involving 188 million registered voters.
Just over 600 Indonesians are eligible to vote at the Embassy in Canberra. Consulates in other Australian cities will also hold ballots.
They face a choice between two candidates: 53-year-old Jakarta governor Joko Widodo, or 62-year-old the former military commander Prabowo Subianto.
Indonesia is not only the world’s largest muslim nation, it is also among the biggest democracies.
Indonesian election by the numbers
•188,206,000 registered voters
•2.03 million registered voters overseas
•478,883 polling booths
•67 million estimated first-time voters
•The election’s budget is $320 million
•The election commission has hired 6 million staff for the poll
•Official result will be declared on August 9
Within Indonesia, polls will open on Wednesday morning in 478,883 stations spread across the 33 provinces of the archipelago. Due to illiteracy, votes are cast with a mark next to candidate photos.
The nation’s electoral commission, or KPU, has a budget of approximately $320 million to run the election, which will be determined in only one round after a ruling this week by Indonesia’s Constitutional Court.
