The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Millions of Jakartans voted in the city's first-ever direct election for governor on Wednesday.
Most offices complied with the current administration's request that the day be made a holiday and gave employees the day off work, while for students it meant a day free of classes.
Both governor candidates, Adang Daradjatun and Fauzi Bowo, have thanked the city's residents for exercising their right to vote and for maintaining peace in the capital during the day.
Formed deputy National Police chief Adang attended a polling station five minutes from his house in Cipete, South Jakarta.
""I just did my morning routine. My family and I just prayed together before we went to the voting site,"" he said.
His running mate, Dani Anwar, voted in Kebon Melati, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.
Meanwhile, current Deputy Governor Fauzi and his wife Sri Hartati cast their votes at a Menteng polling station near his house on Jl. Teuku Umar.
""The world's eyes are on Jakarta right now so let's make this first direct election a peaceful and democratic one,"" Fauzi said.
While the day was generally calm, many voters were angry about registration problems, with some unable to vote on the day.
Mulyani, a Cipete resident, said that while she had lived in the area for years, she was not registered for the election.
""I have an ID card, but I don't know why I'm not registered here. Let alone that I really want to vote for my neighbor,"" she said, referring to Adang.
At one of the four polling booths in the Duren Sawit subdistrict in East Jakarta, many voters complained about inaccurate voter registration data.
""A member of my household who is already deceased is registered as a voter, but one of my children who is actually eligible to vote never received her voting card so she's unable to cast her ballot,"" said resident A. Mukti.
Mukti blamed the Jakarta Elections Commission and the neighborhood units for being ""too lazy to check the electoral list.""
At the state-run Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital two poll booths designated for patients and hospital workers reported a low voter turnout.
""This booth caters for workers who are working 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. shifts and inpatients' relatives,"" Sukmaini Abas, who was in charge one of the stations.
At the Jakarta Police Headquarters, seven detainees, out of 400 people, who were registered as voters failed to cast their votes because the mobile polling station arrived late.
According to the head of the city police's operation control center, Adj. Sr. Comr. Mas Guntur Laupe, all police stations were supposed to be visited by mobile polling stations coordinated by the Jakarta Election Commission.
""But I don't know what time they will arrive.""
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police Head Insp. Gen. Adang Firman said that the election process was in general going well and peacefully.
