Jakarta/Jayapura  - Indonesians begin voting Thursday in parliamentary elections amid concerns of logistical problems and alleged widespread fraudulent voter lists.

Voting began at 7 am (2200 GMT Wednesday) in Indonesia's easternmost Papua province in the sprawling archipelago nation of more than 17,000 islands spanning three different time zones.

Hours before polls opened, violence hits Papua province, including an attack on a police station by dozens of people armed with arrows and bows, and petrol bombs. Police were forced to open fire in order to stop the attack, killing one person and several others were arrested.

More than 171 million of more than 230 million Indonesians were eligible to vote in Thursday's polls, the third general election since the downfall of former autocrat Suharto in 1998, which ushered in a new era of democratic reform.

At stake are 18,560 seats in national, provincial and district parliaments, and 132 seats on the regional representatives council (DPD).

The results from Thursday's polls will determine who can field a presidential candidate, with a vote scheduled to be held in July, with a run-off slated in September if no ticket wins a clear majority in the first round.

An official tally would not be issued until a month later, but quick-count results are expected late Thursday.

Indonesia's General Elections Commission (KPU) has come under fire for failing to handle the logistics better in the complex polling process, dubbed the world's most complex election.

Observers were also questioned about the readiness of the government to hold simultaneous elections across the country, claiming that the preparation for the big day have been poorly handled. They cite serious logistical problems, including slow delivery of ballot paper and troubled voter lists.

However, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed optimism the legislative elections would run without trouble, citing the smooth preparations ahead the polling day.

While acknowledging that the polls might need to be postponed in some remote areas of the archipelago, the KPU insisted the vast majority of around 530,000 polling stations nationwide were ready for voters four days ahead the polling day.

A small number of people were taking part in a simulation of a new voting method, where voters for the first time have to tick on the ballot paper the party or the candidate of their choice, or both.

Under the age-old elections system, voters punched a hole on the symbol of the party of their choice and it was the party who nominated legislative candidates.

There are 38 different political parties contesting the Thursday polls, and six parties fighting for local legislature in Aceh province. (dpa)