REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesians living in eastern parts of the country have flocked to polling stations in their respective areas on Wednesday morning to cast their votes for parliamentary election.

They are part of more than 187.8 million Indonesians whose names have been registered in the final voter list. In Biak Numfor District, Papua Province, for instance, voters have come to the voting booths since 07.30 am local time.

The election workers of polling station number 4, 5 and 6 in Sorido village in Biak Kota District have even served the voters at 07.00 am local time.

In the North Sulawesi town of Tomohon, voters had also started flocking to polling stations at 07.00 am local time. The local police officers conducted a routine patrol to secure the voting process.

A different condition, however, was found in the Papua provincial district of Yahukimo because the General Election Commission (KPU) had decided to postpone vote casting in 35 subdistricts from the earlier schedule of April 9.

According to the KPU commissioner, Hadar Nafis Gumay, the postponement was caused by bad weather that hampered the transportation and distribution of election logistics to the locations.

"Ballot papers cannot be sent to areas in Yahukimo District due to bad weather. Cargo airplane had started flying there, but bad weather had forced the airplane to return to the capital of Yahukimo District," he said.

The polling logistics supplies, including the ballots, were flown by using the civilian and military aircraft to the locations. On the way, however, bad weather prevented the airplane from heading to the locations.

Hadar Nafis said the KPU personnel would resume sending the election logistics on Wednesday if the weather was good while the casting of votes would be conducted soon after the ballots arrived in the locations.

Meanwhile Maluku Governor Said Assagaff visited some polling stations around Ambon city.

According to the Maluku provincial government's spokesman, John Hursepunny, Governor Assagaff were scheduled to visit Benteng, OSM, Talake, Waihaong, Batu Meja, Bekalang Soya, Galunggung and Batu Merah voting booths in Nusaniwe and Sirimau subdistricts.

The voters cast their votes to choose 550 members of the House of Representatives (DPR), 136 members of Regional Representatives Council (DPD), 2,137 members of provincial legislative assembly and 20,257 members of the district/city's legislative assembly.

Indonesians living abroad had also used their voting rights from March 30 to April 6 in which their votes would be included in the electoral area of DKI Jakarta II, consisting of Central Jakarta and South Jakarta.

The importance of this year's legislative election for the future of Indonesia's economy has been echoed by various parties.

Kompas daily's editorial on March 14, for instance, warned that Indonesia's success in gaining a double-digit economic growth would only be achieved if the parliamentary and presidential elections could produce a leader, who was not only capable but also brave to take pro-job and and equitable development strategies.

In this context, a political stability was the key to the success, the University of Gadjah Mada's noted economist, A Tony Prasetiantono, said.

In an effort to maximize voter turnout, KPU has allowed eligible Indonesians, whose names are not in the final voter list, to come to polling booths.

"The eligible voters who have not yet been invited to vote can cast their votes by showing their citizen cards but they must vote at the polling booths on their residential areas," Chairman of KPU Central Bangka Suryansah said.

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