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Asia

Polls open in divisive vote for Indonesia capital governor

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    A muslim woman shows her ink-stained finger after voting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. Voting began in the election for governor of the Indonesian capital after a months-long campaign in which the monumental problems facing Jakarta took a backseat to religious intolerance and racial bigotry. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) (The Associated Press)

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    A woman votes at a polling station during the gubernatorial election in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. Voting was underway in the election for governor of the Indonesian capital after a divisive months-long campaign in which the monumental problems facing Jakarta took a backseat to religious intolerance and racial bigotry. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (The Associated Press)

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    An official shows an empty ballot box before opening the polling station for voters during the gubernatorial election in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. Voting was underway in the election for governor of the Indonesian capital after a divisive months-long campaign in which the monumental problems facing Jakarta took a backseat to religious intolerance and racial bigotry. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (The Associated Press)

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Voting began in the election for governor of the Indonesian capital after a months-long campaign in which the monumental problems facing Jakarta took a backseat to religious intolerance and racial bigotry.

More than 13,000 polling places opened at 7 a.m. to accommodate the 7.1 million people eligible to vote. The election is one of dozens taking place Wednesday across Muslim-majority Indonesia.

Incumbent Gov. Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, a minority Christian and ethnic Chinese, is vying against Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, who is the son of a former president, and Anies Rasyid Baswedan, a moderate now courting the votes of conservative and hard-line Muslims.

Ahok's chances appeared dashed after accusations of blasphemy led to criminal charges and his ongoing blasphemy trial but he has recently rebounded in opinion polls.

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