Indonesia Election: Everything You Need to Know

More than 100 million people are expected to vote. The country is a vibrant democracy, but some fear it is slipping back into a dark past.

The numbers are staggering.

More than 100 million people are expected to vote, many for the first time. They will do so in voting booths spread across thousands of islands and three time zones, hammering nails into ballot papers to mark their choices. And within hours, if history is to be believed, the world will know the outcome of the biggest race of the day: that for the Indonesian presidency.

Indonesia, the world's third largest democracy, will hold its general elections on Wednesday. Election Day is a national holiday and, on average, about 75 percent of eligible voters turned out to vote. In addition to the president, voters choose members of parliament and local representatives.

This election season has raised fears that Indonesia, which was not an authoritarian state for so long, is in danger of falling back into its dark past. The potential consequences extend well beyond the country's borders. As one of the world's largest exporters of coal, nickel and palm oil, Indonesia has an important role to play in the climate change crisis.

And in the competition between the United States and China for influence in Asia, Indonesia is seen by American officials as a "swing state." Under President Joko Widodo, ties with China have deepened significantly, but he has also maintained strong defense relations with Washington.

Here's what you need to know .

What is at stake?

The election is widely seen as a referendum on the legacy of Mr Joko, who is stepping down after two five-year terms.

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Often called Jokowi, he remains extremely popular because he transformed Indonesia into one of Southeast Asia's greatest economic success stories. He ushered in a universal health care system, built more than 1,000 miles of roads and highways, and oversaw respectable economic growth of about 5 percent per year.

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