Election ballots and boxes carried across Indonesia by motorcycle, boat, horse and on foot
A police officer assists an electoral worker to drive his motorbike up a hill as they distribute ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia to polling stations in remote villages ahead of the Feb. 14 election in Maros, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Masyudi S. Firmansyah)
Workers load ballot boxes onto a truck to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Baduy tribesmen carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
Electoral workers assist a colleague to mount a horse to distribute ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia to polling stations in remote villages in Andongrejo, East Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)
Electoral workers use horses to carry ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia to polling stations in remote villages in Andongrejo, East Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)
A man uses a motorized tricycle to transport ballot boxes to a polling station ahead of the Feb. 14 election in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi)
People carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
Workers carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Electoral workers unload ballot boxes from a boat during the distribution of election paraphernalia to remote villages, in Pemulutan, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Muhammad Hatta)
People carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
Workers load ballot boxes onto a truck to be distributed to polling stations ahead of Feb. 14 election in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. The world’s third-largest democracy is preparing to hold its legislative and presidential elections on Feb. 14, 2024 that will determine who will succeed the incumbent President Joko Widodo, who is serving his second and final term. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)
People use a cart to transport ballot boxes ahead of the Feb. 14 election in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi)
People carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
Electoral workers arrange ballot boxes in a boat during the distribution of election paraphernalia to remote villages, in Pemulutan, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Muhammad Hatta)
Electoral workers carry ballot boxes during the distribution of election paraphernalia to remote villages, in Pemulutan, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Muhammad Hatta)
A police officer assists an electoral worker to drive his motorbike up a hill as they distribute ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia to polling stations in remote villages ahead of the Feb. 14 election in Maros, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Masyudi S. Firmansyah)
A police officer assists an electoral worker to drive his motorbike up a hill as they distribute ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia to polling stations in remote villages ahead of the Feb. 14 election in Maros, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Masyudi S. Firmansyah)
Workers load ballot boxes onto a truck to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Workers load ballot boxes onto a truck to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Baduy tribesmen carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
Baduy tribesmen carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
Electoral workers assist a colleague to mount a horse to distribute ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia to polling stations in remote villages in Andongrejo, East Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)
Electoral workers assist a colleague to mount a horse to distribute ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia to polling stations in remote villages in Andongrejo, East Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)
Electoral workers use horses to carry ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia to polling stations in remote villages in Andongrejo, East Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)
Electoral workers use horses to carry ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia to polling stations in remote villages in Andongrejo, East Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)
A man uses a motorized tricycle to transport ballot boxes to a polling station ahead of the Feb. 14 election in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi)
A man uses a motorized tricycle to transport ballot boxes to a polling station ahead of the Feb. 14 election in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi)
People carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
People carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
Workers carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Workers carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Electoral workers unload ballot boxes from a boat during the distribution of election paraphernalia to remote villages, in Pemulutan, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Muhammad Hatta)
Electoral workers unload ballot boxes from a boat during the distribution of election paraphernalia to remote villages, in Pemulutan, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Muhammad Hatta)
People carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
People carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
Workers load ballot boxes onto a truck to be distributed to polling stations ahead of Feb. 14 election in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. The world’s third-largest democracy is preparing to hold its legislative and presidential elections on Feb. 14, 2024 that will determine who will succeed the incumbent President Joko Widodo, who is serving his second and final term. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)
Workers load ballot boxes onto a truck to be distributed to polling stations ahead of Feb. 14 election in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. The world’s third-largest democracy is preparing to hold its legislative and presidential elections on Feb. 14, 2024 that will determine who will succeed the incumbent President Joko Widodo, who is serving his second and final term. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)
People use a cart to transport ballot boxes ahead of the Feb. 14 election in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi)
People use a cart to transport ballot boxes ahead of the Feb. 14 election in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi)
People carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
People carry ballot boxes to be distributed to polling stations ahead of the Feb. 14 election, in Kanekes village, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Rangga Firmansyah)
Electoral workers arrange ballot boxes in a boat during the distribution of election paraphernalia to remote villages, in Pemulutan, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Muhammad Hatta)
Electoral workers arrange ballot boxes in a boat during the distribution of election paraphernalia to remote villages, in Pemulutan, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Muhammad Hatta)
Electoral workers carry ballot boxes during the distribution of election paraphernalia to remote villages, in Pemulutan, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Muhammad Hatta)
Electoral workers carry ballot boxes during the distribution of election paraphernalia to remote villages, in Pemulutan, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, will open its polls on Wednesday, Feb. 14, to nearly 205 million eligible voters in presidential and legislative elections, the fifth since Southeast Asia’s largest economy began democratic reforms in 1998. (AP Photo/Muhammad Hatta)
Iconic white ballot boxes and ballots to let the nearly 205 million eligible voters of Indonesia choose candidates in this Wednesday’s election have been carried across the world’s largest archipelago by motorcycle, boat and even horse — as well as on foot.
The journey can be tough.
The boxes and ballots must sometimes be hand-carried up mountains, across rivers and through villages in the forest to reach a population that is spread out across over 17,000 islands that stretch over 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) from east to west.
A huge number of boxes and ballots is required for the vote in the world’s third largest democracy.
Once entering a voting booth, a voter must deal with five ballots at once, choosing one of three pairs of presidential and vice presidential hopefuls, as well as candidates at the national, provincial, regional and city levels.
The official vote-counting process is laborious, and may take up to 35 days. But the public can expect numerous early vote count results based on sampling, as registered private polling and survey groups will deploy thousands of volunteers and staff to polling stations nationwide.