Indonesians brave heavy rains to choose new president

Despite heavy rain in parts of the country, Indonesians began voting Wednesday to choose a successor to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in an election that will also determine the geopolitical direction of the world’s fourth most populous country.

Long lines were seen forming at polling stations as people headed out early to vote, particularly in the most populous provinces on the island of Java, where more than half of the country’s total voters are registered.

Although floods had impacted voting at some polling stations, more than 204 million eligible voters are expected to head to polls over the coming hours to cast their ballots for Indonesia’s next president as well as legislative, provincial and local representatives in one the largest elections in Asia this year.