As we've mentioned earlier, Indonesia is so large it's split across three time-zones. Voting has just finished in its western-most province of Sumatra.

The polls closed at 13:00 local time (0600 GMT) there meaning most voters got it done in the morning.

We should get an idea of the unofficial results by independent pollsters within the next few hours. The official formal count takes weeks to come in.

We can also expect candidates to declare if they show a clear over 50% majority.

The last polling stations have closed and vote counting should begin soon. We'll bring you the latest updates as we get them.

Jonathan Head
BBC South East Asia Correspondent

This election could mark a turning point for Indonesian democracy, after two decades of impressive stability under just two, directly-elected presidents, both widely viewed as moderate and capable.

President Jokowi’s second term has seen a steady erosion of the democratic accountability and freedom won after the fall of the authoritarian Suharto regime in 1998.

His alliance with Prabowo Subianto, Suharto’s son-in-law and a former special forces commander, who has frequently criticised the influence of western democratic values in Indonesian politics, and advocated a more state-dominated, authoritarian system, has raised alarm over what a Prabowo presidency would mean for Indonesian democracy.

To young voters in Indonesia, Prabowo is a "cuddly grandpa" with the TikTok dance moves.

Once dogged by kidnapping and torture allegations, the fiery ex-special forces commander is now considered the frontrunner in Indonesia's presidential elections thanks to a slick social media makeover.

Read more here.

Frances Mao
Asia Online

The country is made up of over 17,000 islands spread over a vast space.

If you went from one end of the country to the other, you'd travel a distance longer than Europe or the US mainland.

We mapped it out:

It's been a herculean logistical effort to get this election happening across Indonesia's 17,000 islands - the country covers a vast distance the size of the US mainland.

But electoral officials have set things up to deliver for the world's third-largest democracy (after India and the US). The scale is incredible.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Nicky Widadio
Reporting from East Kalimantan

I'm reporting from a workers' camp in East Kalimantan.

This is the first time that voting is being conducted here at the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (IKN) project area.

These special polling stations were set up by electoral authorities to accommodate the voting rights of IKN workers, the majority of whom come from outside Kalimantan Island.

Almost 3,000 project workers will vote at polling stations scattered in villages around the area.

One of the construction project workers is 42-year-old Nur Ihsanuddin from Central Java, who told me this poll feels different for him.

"I am very happy to be able to vote for the future president in the IKN, so there can be a change," he said. He added he hoped the new president would "provide space for the people at the grassroots".

I also observed as several project workers, who were not registered to vote, came here anyway hoping to cast their ballots.

One of them is Rahmat, 40, who came with several documents in his hands hoping to vote for the president and vice president.

However, he was rejected because he did not have a transfer voting endorsement.

"We will try to still be able to vote," he said.

Image source, Reuters

It's just past 1100 in Jakarta where millions of voters have already cast a ballot in today's election.

After a decade of stable, two-term governance under moderate Joko Widodo, voters find themselves at a crossroads: Will they pick a former military leader who represents the country's dark, authoritarian past, or will two younger governors pledging populist policies succeed?

More than 50% of Indonesian voters are aged under 40 - so the young vote is the critical bloc here.

• All three presidential hopefuls Prabawo Subianto, Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo have voted this morning in Java and West Java
• Popular outgoing leader Jokowi was also seen voting in the capital - his son is the vice presidential nominee on Prabawo's ticket
• Everyone showed off their ink-stained fingers after casting their ballots to show they had voted

• Indonesia is spread across three time zones, so polling opened at 0700 local time (2200 GMT) in Papua in the east and will close at 1300 in Sumatra (0600 GMT)
• It's the world's largest single-day election - more than 205 million voters are eligible across 17,000 islands and the country typically sees an over 75% turnout.

How do the candidates differ?published at 04:14 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2024

04:14 GMT 14 February 2024

Jonathan Head
Reporting from Jakarta

The policy platforms of the three candidates do not differ greatly. President Jokowi remains hugely popular, and all three candidates have promised to continue a development-focused agenda, with only Anies Baswedan questioning the priority given to the biggest projects, like the new capital city.

But their personalities differ a lot.

Prabowo Subianto is a throwback to the old authoritarian era, a man accused in the past of serious human rights abuses and known for his intemperate outbursts and anti-democratic views. However, he has radically changed his image in this election to that of an avuncular, even comical character, relying on his alliance with President Jokowi to broaden his appeal.

Anies Baswedan is the articulate former governor of Jakarta who is closely associated with groups advocating a more Islamic Indonesia. This gives him a strong base of support in conservative Muslim parts of the country, though he has stressed his commitment to tolerance and pluralism in Indonesia.

Ganjar Pranowo, the telegenic former governor of Central Java was once considered the frontrunner, as the PDIP’s candidate. But President Jokowi’s unexpected switch from the PDIP to the Prabowo camp hit Ganjar’s popularity, and his campaign has struggled to regain momentum.

Image source, Reuters

The immensely popular outgoing president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and First Lady Iriana cast their ballots in a polling station in Central Jakarta this morning. Here's a clip of that scene:

There's a fair bit of controversy around the outgoing leader this election. Given Jokowi's eldest son is the running partner for Prabawo, Jokowi has widely been seen as endorsing his former rival's campaign.

Jokowi defeated Prabawo in the last two elections to secure office. But this time he's gone against his own PDI-P party - whose candidate is Ganjar.

That's led to many critics alleging an abuse of power; and suggestions that Jokowi is trying to retain some influence in government through his son.

As we reported, hundreds protested against his alleged interference in rallies in the capital and elsewhere earlier this week. He and his national office have denied the accusations.

After voting this morning, he and the first lady spoke to journalists.

"We hope that the 2024 election can be a people's party that is honest, fair and safe," he said.

"If there is [fraud], you can file a complaint with the Constitutional Court."

Electoral rules require a candidate to win more than 50% of the vote and at least 20% in 20 of the country’s provinces to win the presidency. If that does not happen, a runoff round will be held in June.

Analysts and opinion polls are forecasting that former military general Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka - who is outgoing president Jokowi’s eldest son - will likely win the round of voting on 14 Feb.

But whether they will get the required proportion of votes or be forced into a runoff is less clear.

Image source, Reuters

Prabowo Subianto has cast his vote - he turned up to a polling booth in Bogor regency at 9am Western Indonesia Time. This means all the presidential hopefuls have gotten that out of the way in the morning.

Prabowo is the favourite to win, with Jokowi's son as his running mate. But the ex- Suharto regime commander is a polarising figure - and has a bloody human rights record.

The US and Australia once had him on a blacklist: as a special forces commander in the late 1990s, he led a unit which kidnapped and tortured dozens of pro-democracy activists, 13 of whom are still missing.

But since coming back into Indonesian politics a decade ago, he has moved steadily closer to power. He was the Defence Minister in the most recent term of government and in this campaign. he has attempted to rehabilitate his reputation with a new cuddly, social media-friendly "cute grandpa" image.

After casting his vote, Prabowo spoke to gathered media saying he hoped the election would go smoothly.

"We will wait for the results," he said.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuter

Indonesia's election commission said voting will be delayed in 10 villages in Central Java due to extensive floods caused by thunderstorms.

With 114 polling stations affected, some 26,000 voters in Demak Regency's Karanganyar District will have to wait to cast their votes.

In response, the election monitoring agency in Semarang warned that the postponement might increase the dangers of manipulation, sabotage and intimidation.

Image source, Reuters

Meanwhile another leading candidate - Ganjar Pranowo from the current ruling party - has also cast his ballot.

Pictures show Ganjar voting in Ngaliyan District in Semarang, Central Java. He was accompanied by his wife and child.

Ganjar is skilled at connecting with people on a populist agenda: it's won him two terms in Central Java.

In the early days of the campaign, he was seen as President Widodo's shoo-in successor and analysts had him pegged as the frontrunner. But Widodo has since distanced himself from his party's campaign sparking reports of a rift with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Image source, Getty Images

One of the contenders for president, Anies Baswedan, has arrived at a polling booth near his home in Jakarta to cast his vote.

Wearing a white shirt and a big smile, the bespectacled 54-year-old swept in with his family around him. He was seen pushing a senior relative along in her wheelchair.

He has portrayed himself as the alternative to the two other candidates who are expected to continue most of outgoing President Widodo's policies if elected.

He has repeatedly claimed democracy has declined under Mr Widodo and pledged to be "consistent in keeping the country away from the practices of feudalism and nepotism".

Image source, Getty Images

Voting is now well underway for Indonesia's 205 million eligible voters - kicking off in the easternmost province of Papua first.

Some morning shots coming in across the archipelago:

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Raja Lumbanrau
BBC Indonesian, reporting from Papua

I am in the mountainous province of Papua, one of the few places where elections still operate with a traditional "noken" system.

Unlike most Indonesians who cast their ballots individually, some indigeneous communities in Papua use a traditional voting model where a representative votes on behalf of their community, based on prior consensus.

Around 9:00 in the morning here, dozens of residents had already arrived in Kimbin village, where ballot boxes line the field. There are no voting booths here at Polling Station 5.

Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province, has a long history of an independence movement. But the province has consistently favoured Jokowi in the last two elections.

On Monday, hundreds of students protested in the capital Jakarta against what they allege has been outgoing President Joko Widodo’s interference in the election.

Jokowi is stepping down after two full terms in office.

But critics say he has abused his power in wrangling to get his eldest son on Prabowo Subianto's ticket and that he's thrown his immense popularity behind that ticket.

His 36-year-old son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is the running partner and vice-presidential candidate for Prabawo.

But he only managed to become eligible for the position after Indonesia’s Constitutional Court last year changed the rules - and the deciding vote on this was cast by none other than Jokowi’s brother-in-law, who is also the chief justice on the court.

Critics say this is Jokowi's attempt at keeping his power in Indonesian politics, and it undermines democracy.

In the city of Yogyakarta on Java island this week, protesters banged bamboo instruments and carried posters reading “Bring Jokowi and his cronies to justice”.

Prabowo Subianto, 72, is leading the race - once known for his short temper and volatile politics, he has now rebranded himself as a “cuddly grandpa”, complete with TikTok dance videos. He promises to continue Jokowi’s policies.

Ganjar Pranowo, 55, is the choice of the PDI-P, Jokowi’s party. He is a former two-time governor of Central Java.

Anies Baswedan, 54, is a former education minister and governor of Jakarta, the capital. He has somewhat of a blot on his record from a fairly divisive campaign for the governor’s office that targeted the ethnic-Chinese and Christian community.

Policy-wise they don’t appear to be major differences - only Anies’ campaign has suggested that moving the capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan is not a priority.

• Read more about the candidates

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA

Many had said it was Joko Widodo's "man of the people" image that helped score his first presidential victory in July 2014.

The former furniture salesman was Indonesia's first leader from outside the political and military elite. His decisive win was propelled by people's frustrations with corruption and nepotism in the country's young democracy, which is also the world's third largest.

Under the 62-year-old, Indonesia's GDP grew by a cumulative 43% since he entered office. Even as Jokowi, as he is commmonly known, is about to step down, he remains hugely popular, enjoying consistently high approval ratings of more than 70%.

But the legacy he is leaving behind has been somewhat marred by a perceived attempt to build a political dynasty through his eldest son. Gibran Rakabuming Raka is the running mate of presidential frontrunner and Jokowi’s one-time political rival Prabowo Subianto.

Critics have also accused Jokowi of weakening Indonesia’s democracy through his other political decisions, including reviving the death penalty and bringing in ex-generals and religious conservatives into his cabinet.

Here’s more on the outgoing president’s tainted legacy.