Nearly 259,000 candidates are contesting 20,600 posts in the world's biggest single-day election.
All eyes, however, are on the president and the future of his plans to advance the nation's standing as a leader in electric vehicles and to continue a big drive for infrastructure, which includes a multibillion-dollar proposal to relocate the nation's capital.
Two former governors, Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan, are competing against controversial front-runner Prabowo Subianto, a former special forces commander who was feared in the 1990s as a top lieutenant of Indonesia's late strongman dictator Suharto, in the contest to replace Widodo, often known as Jokowi.
Prabowo was predicted by two polls conducted last week to receive the majority of the vote and avoid a runoff.
According to both surveys, Prabowo had 51.8% and 51.9% of the vote, respectively, with Anies and Ganjar trailing by 27 and 31 percentage points. A candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote and 20% of the ballot in half of the provinces in order to win outright.
After casting his ballot in central Jakarta, 42-year-old entrepreneur Novan Maradona stated that he was looking for a candidate who would uphold the status quo.
"If we start over from zero, it will take time," he stated.
With three different time zones, voting is currently taking place throughout Indonesia. Voting in the western regions is scheduled to end by 0600 GMT.
With thunderstorms generating floods in several areas of the capital, voting in Jakarta got off to a slow start. There were delays at least at 34 polling places, but it was unclear how much of an influence there would be on voter turnout. In previous elections, roughly 75% of voters turned out.
While some polling places in West Java province distributed fruit to voters who were in line, other polling places in Central Java and Bali were decorated for Valentine's Day with pink and white accents.
Early results are anticipated later on Wednesday, based on ballots that have been publicly tabulated from a representative sample of polling places around the nation. The unofficial tallies recorded by reliable companies have shown to be accurate in past elections.
Calls for clean election
Undecided voters will be critical to former Jakarta governor Anies and ex-Central Java governor Ganjar, to try to force a runoff in June between the top two finishers.
"I want to underline that we want honest and fair elections so that it becomes peaceful," Anies said at a polling station.
Deadly riots broke out after the 2019 election, when Prabowo who has run previously for president had initially contested Jokowi's victory.
Anies has campaigned on promises of change and preventing a backsliding in the democratic reforms achieved in the 25 years since the end of Suharto's authoritarian, kleptocratic rule.
Ganjar hails from the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle, of which Jokowi is ostensibly a member, and has campaigned largely on continuing the president's policies, but crucially lacks his endorsement.
Before voting, he also called for a clean election so that candidates could accept the result.
On Wednesday, Defense Minister Prabowo expressed his hope that the "voting process goes well".
After losing to Jokowi twice, who is obliquely supporting his erstwhile opponent and is considered as a continuity candidate to uphold his legacy—including a position for his son as Prabowo's running mate—Prabo is running for office a third time.
Jokowi attempted to draw investment throughout his ten years in administration by enacting laws that reduced red tape and simplified company regulations. According to World Bank figures, millions have profited from his administration's attempts to control inflation, and per capita income has increased.
Prabowo rebrand
The 72-year-old Prabowo has pledged to continue Jokowi's policies and at the same time transformed his image from a fiery-tempered nationalist to a cuddly grandfather figure with awkward dance moves.
Prabowo's more gentle characterisation, played out largely on short video app TikTok, has endeared him to voters under 40, who make up more than half of the 204.8 million electorate.
A 25-year-old student Keko Iyeres said he wanted to see improved education and justice.
"I like Prabowo because he is aggressive but can also be gentle. We need a leader like that. And I see that Jokowi also supports him."
But Jokowi's intimated support for Prabowo, plus allegations he interfered in a court ruling to allow his son to contest the vice presidency, have prompted criticism that unlike previous presidents he is not staying neutral over his succession.
Jokowi's loyalists have rejected that and it is unclear if the allegations will impact Prabowo.
Asked about allegations of foul play, including in a documentary called "Dirty Vote" that went viral on social media this week, Jokowi said there were mechanisms to report issues.
"If there is cheating on the ground, that can be reported to Bawaslu (the election watchdog) and then ... a petition can be brought to the Constitutional Court."
