Editing Aceh (section)

== Government ==
Within the country, Aceh is governed not as a regular province but as a special autonomous province (''daerah istimewa''), an administrative designation intended to give the area increased [[Wiktionary:autonomy|autonomy]] from the central government in [[Jakarta]]. This has resulted in canings for crimes deemed to have violated sharia law such as gambling, drinking, skipping Friday prayers, and most notably homosexuality.

Regional elections have been held in Aceh in recent years for senior positions at the provincial, regency (''kabupaten'') and district (''kecamatan'') levels. In the [[2006 Acehnese gubernatorial election|2006 elections]], [[Irwandi Yusuf]] was elected as the provincial governor for 2007–2012 and in [[2012 Acehnese gubernatorial election|elections in April 2012]], [[Zaini Abdullah]] was elected as governor for 2012–2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/indonesia/priorities-gam-led-government-aceh |title=Priorities for a GAM-Led Government in Aceh |date=2006-12-29 |website=Crisis Group|access-date=2020-01-09 |archive-date=11 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611200401/https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/indonesia/priorities-gam-led-government-aceh |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Iis* |first1=Em Yusuf |last2=Yunus |first2=Mukhlis |last3=Adam |first3=Muhammad |last4=Sofyan |first4=Hizir |date=2018 |title=Antecedent Model of Empowerment and Performance of Aceh Government With Motivation as the Intervening Variable |url=https://ideas.repec.org/a/arp/tjssrr/2018p743-747.html |journal=The Journal of Social Sciences Research|pages=743–747:2 |access-date=9 January 2020 |archive-date=11 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611152619/https://ideas.repec.org/a/arp/tjssrr/2018p743-747.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{See also|Governor of Aceh}}

=== Law ===
{{Main|Islamic criminal law in Aceh}}
[[File:Use of sharia in Southeast Asia.png|thumb|Use of [[sharia]] in Southeast Asia:
{{legend|#03FFFF|Choice between sharia and secular courts, only on personal status issues}}
{{legend|#F6DD4F|Sharia applies in personal status issues only}}
{{legend|#706EA4|Sharia applies in full, including criminal law}}
]]
Beginning with the promulgation of Law 44/1999, Aceh's governor began to issue limited [[Sharia]]-based regulations, for example requiring female government employees to wear Islamic dress. These regulations were not enforced by the provincial government, but as early as April 1999, reports emerged that groups of men in Aceh were engaging in [[vigilante]] violence in an effort to impose Sharia, for example, by conducting "[[jilbab]] raids," subjecting women who were not wearing Islamic headscarves to verbal abuse, cutting their hair or clothes, and committing other acts of violence against them.<ref name="shariapolicing">{{cite web |title=Policing Morality Abuses in the Application of Sharia in Aceh, Indonesia |url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,4565c2252,4565c25f4d,4cf62b9f1d1,0,,,.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416143726/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/topic,4565c2252,4565c25f4d,4cf62b9f1d1,0,,,.html |archive-date=16 April 2013 |publisher=Human Rights Watch |access-date=2 April 2013 |year=2010 |pages=13–17}}</ref> The frequency of these and other attacks on individuals considered to be violating Sharia principles appeared to increase following the enactment of Law 44/1999 and the governor's Sharia regulations.<ref name="shariapolicing" /> In 2014, a group of scholars who call themselves [[Tadzkiiratul Ummah]], started to paint the [[Trousers|pants]] of men and women as a call for heavier Islamic law enforcement in the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://makassar.tribunnews.com/2014/12/04/ini-hukuman-bagi-wanita-berpakaian-ketat-celananya-disemprot-cat |title=Ini Hukuman Bagi Wanita Berpakaian Ketat, Celananya Disemprot Cat |author=Edi Sumardi |date=4 December 2014 |access-date=4 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208060328/http://makassar.tribunnews.com/2014/12/04/ini-hukuman-bagi-wanita-berpakaian-ketat-celananya-disemprot-cat |archive-date=8 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Upon the enactment of the Special Autonomy Law in 2001, Aceh's provincial legislature enacted a series of ''[[qanun (law)|qanuns]]'' (local laws) governing the implementation of Sharia. Five qanuns enacted between 2002 and 2004 contained criminal penalties for violations of Sharia: Qanun 11/2002 on "belief, ritual, and promoting Islam," which contains the Islamic attire requirement; Qanun 12/2003 prohibiting the consumption and sale of alcohol; Qanun 13/2003 prohibiting gambling; Qanun 14/2003 prohibiting "seclusion"; and Qanun 7/2004 on the payment of Islamic alms. With the exception of gambling, none of the offenses are prohibited outside of Aceh.<ref name="shariapolicing" />

Responsibility for enforcement of the qanuns rests both with the National Police and with a special Sharia police force unique to Aceh, known as the [[Wilayatul Hisbah]] (Sharia Authority). All of the qanuns provide for penalties including fines, imprisonment, and [[caning]], the latter a punishment unknown in most parts of Indonesia. Between mid-2005 and early 2007, at least 135 people were caned in Aceh for transgressing the qanuns.<ref name="shariapolicing" /> In April 2016, a 60-year-old non-Muslim woman was sentenced to 30 lashes for selling alcohol drinks. The controversy is that qanun is not allowed for non-Muslim person, and national law should be used instead as in other parts of Indonesia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.detik.com/berita/3187693/hukuman-cambuk-pertama-terhadap-non-muslim-di-aceh-jadi-sorotan |title=Hukuman Cambuk Pertama Terhadap Non Muslim di Aceh Jadi Sorotan |author=Rachmadin Ismail |date=14 April 2016 |access-date=14 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415175706/http://news.detik.com/berita/3187693/hukuman-cambuk-pertama-terhadap-non-muslim-di-aceh-jadi-sorotan |archive-date=15 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2009, [[Partai Aceh]] won control of the local parliament in Aceh's first post-war legislative elections. In September 2009, one month before the new legislators were to take office, the outgoing parliament unanimously endorsed two new qanuns to expand the existing criminal Sharia framework in Aceh.

*One bill, the ''Qanun on Criminal Procedure'' (Qanun Hukum Jinayat), to create an entirely new procedural code for the enforcement of Sharia by police, prosecutors, and courts in Aceh.<ref name="shariapolicing" />
*The other bill, the ''Qanun on Criminal Law'' (Qanun Jinayat), reiterated the existing criminal Sharia prohibitions, at times enhancing their penalties, and a host of new criminal offenses, including [[ikhtilat]] (intimacy or mixing), [[zina]] (adultery, defined as willing intercourse by unmarried people), sexual harassment, rape, and homosexual conduct.<ref>Hotli Simanjuntak and Ina Parlina, '[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/02/07/aceh-fully-enforces-sharia.html Aceh fully enforces Sharia'] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307183758/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/02/07/aceh-fully-enforces-sharia.html |date=7 March 2018 }}, ''The Jakarta Post'', 7 February 2014.</ref> The law authorized punishments including up to 60 lashes for "intimacy," up to 100 lashes for engaging in homosexual conduct, up to 100 lashes for adultery by unmarried persons, and death by [[stoning]] for adultery by a married person.<ref name="shariapolicing" />

However, the then proposed bylaws was met with widespread condemnations from all of Indonesia and then governor [[Irwandi Yusuf]] refused to sign the bylaw, thereby keeping it a law without legal force and, in some views, therefore still a law ''draft'', rather than actual law.<ref>
[http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/archive/aceh-stoning-law-hits-a-new-wall/ Aceh Stoning Law Hits a New Wall] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125051612/http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/archive/aceh-stoning-law-hits-a-new-wall/ |date=2016-01-25 }} ''The Jakarta Globe'', 12 October 2009</ref> In March 2013, the Aceh government removed the stoning provision from its own draft of a new criminal code.<ref>[http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/aceh-government-removes-stoning-sentence-from-draft-bylaw/ Aceh Government Removes Stoning Sentence From Draft Bylaw] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125051612/http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/aceh-government-removes-stoning-sentence-from-draft-bylaw/ |date=2016-01-25 }}, ''Jakarta Globe'' 12 March 2013</ref>

'''Caning'''

In practice since the introduction of the new laws, there has been a considerable increase in the use of the penalties provided set out in the laws. As an example, in August 2015 six men in [[Bireuën Regency]] were arrested and caned for betting on the names of passing buses.<ref>'[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/27/six-men-caned-betting-passing-buses-aceh.html Six men caned for betting on passing buses in Aceh'] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925142315/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/27/six-men-caned-betting-passing-buses-aceh.html |date=25 September 2015 }}, ''The Jakarta Post'', 27 August 2015.</ref> And it was reported that on just one day, 18 September 2015, a total of 34 people were caned in Banda Aceh and in the nearby regency of Aceh Besar.<ref>Hotli Simanjuntak, '[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/09/19/dozens-sharia-violators-caned-aceh.html Dozens of sharia vilators caned in Aceh'] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928222649/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/09/19/dozens-sharia-violators-caned-aceh.html |date=28 September 2015 }}, ''The Jakarta Post'', 19 September 2015.</ref>

Two gay men are to be publicly lashed 85 times each under sharia law after being filmed by vigilantes in Indonesia. An Islamic court in the province of Aceh passed down its first sentence for homosexuality on the [[International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia]], 17 May 2017 in spite of international appeals to spare the couple.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/islamic-court-indonesia-gay-men-85-lashes-sex-caught-homosexuality-laws-first-time-khairil-jamal-a7740626.html |title=Sharia court in Indonesia sentences two gay men to 85 lashes each after being caught having sex |author=Lizzie Dearden |website=[[The Independent]]|location=London |date=17 May 2017 |access-date=23 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901071227/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/islamic-court-indonesia-gay-men-85-lashes-sex-caught-homosexuality-laws-first-time-khairil-jamal-a7740626.html |archive-date=1 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Whipping is the common [[hudud]] punishment for [[Maisir|gambling]], [[Zina|adultery]], [[Khamr|drinking alcohol]], and having gay or pre-marital sex. Typically the whipping has been done by men. In 2020, with increased enforcement and more crimes being committed by women, Aceh authorities say they are trying to follow [[Islamic law]], which calls for women to whip female perpetrators.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/indonesias-aceh-unveils-new-female-flogging-squad-1.1580195711185 |title=Indonesia's Aceh unveils new female flogging squad |date=28 January 2020 |work=[[The Gulf News]] |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=11 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611132253/https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/indonesias-aceh-unveils-new-female-flogging-squad-1.1580195711185 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/31/asia-pacific/crime-legal-asia-pacific/indonesias-aceh-unveils-female-flogging-squad-women-run-afoul-islamic-law/ |title=Indonesia's Aceh unveils female flogging squad as more women run afoul of Islamic law |date=31 January 2020 |work=[[The Japan Times]] |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=25 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325135421/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/31/asia-pacific/crime-legal-asia-pacific/indonesias-aceh-unveils-female-flogging-squad-women-run-afoul-islamic-law/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
[[File:Aceh Regencies.png|thumb|Municipalities of Aceh]]
Administratively, the province now is subdivided into eighteen [[Regency (Indonesia)|regencies]] (''kabupaten'') and five autonomous cities (''kota''). The capital and the largest city is [[Banda Aceh]], located on the coast near the northern tip of Sumatra. When originally devised in 1956, the province comprised the city of '''Banda Aceh''' and six regencies – '''Aceh Besar''', '''Pidie''', '''North Aceh''', '''East Aceh''', '''Central Aceh''', and '''West Aceh'''; however on 14 November 1956 a seventh regency ('''South Aceh''') was created from the southeastern districts of West Aceh Regency. A second city ('''Sabang City''') was separated from Aceh Besar on 10 June 1965 and '''Southeast Aceh Regency''' from part of Central Aceh on 4 June 1974; three additional regencies were formed in 1999 – '''Aceh Singkil''' from part of South Aceh Regency on 20 April, and '''Bireuen''' (from part of North Aceh Regency) and '''Simeulue''' (from part of West Aceh Regency) on 4 October.

The towns of '''Lhokseumawe''' and '''Langsa''' were given separate city status (from parts of North Aceh Regency and of East Aceh Regency respectively) on 21 June 2001, and five additional regencies were created on 10 April 2002 – '''Aceh Jaya''' and '''Nagan Raya''' (both from parts of West Aceh Regency), '''Aceh Tamiang''' (from part of East Aceh Regency), '''Gayo Lues''' (from part of Southeast Aceh Regency) and '''Southwest Aceh''' (from part of South Aceh Regency). '''Bener Meriah Regency''' was created on 19 December 2003 (from part of Central Aceh Regency), and '''Pidie Jaya Regency''' (from part of Pidie Regency) and '''Subulussalam City''' (from part of Aceh Singkil Regency) on 2 January 2007. Some other local areas are pushing to create new autonomous areas, usually with the stated goal of enhancing local control over politics and development.

The cities and regencies (subdivided into the 289 [[Districts of Indonesia|districts]] or ''kecamatan'' of Aceh), are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011">Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.</ref> and the 2020 census,<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021" /> together with the officially estimated population as at mid 2024.<ref name="BPS Provinsi Aceh 2025"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-bottom:0;"
|-
! Kode <br>Wilayah|| Name of<br>City or <br>Regency !! Regency<br>Capital !! Est. || Established<br /> by statute || Area <br />in<br />km<sup>2</sup> !! Pop'n<br />2010<br />census !! Pop'n<br />2020<br />census !! Pop'n<br />mid 2024<br />estimate !! [[Human Development Index|HDI]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bps.go.id/indicator/26/413/1/-metode-baru-indeks-pembangunan-manusia.html |title=Indeks-Pembangunan-Manusia-2021 |access-date=30 January 2020 |archive-date=27 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127193437/https://www.bps.go.id/indicator/26/413/1/-metode-baru-indeks-pembangunan-manusia.html |url-status=live }}</ref><br />2021 estimates
|-
| 11.72 || [[Sabang, Indonesia|Sabang City]]|| || 1967 || UU 10/1965 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 122.04}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 30653}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 41197}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 43500}} || 0.761 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.06 || [[Aceh Besar Regency]] || [[Jantho]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2882.83}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 351418}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 405535}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 428300}} || 0.735 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.71 || [[Banda Aceh]] City|| || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 55.85}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 223446}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 252899}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 265000}} || 0.857 ({{fontcolor|green|Very High}})
|-
| 11.14 || [[Aceh Jaya Regency]] || [[Calang]] || 2002 || UU 4/2002 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 3893.05}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 76782}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 93,159}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 99200}} || 0.698 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.07 || [[Pidie Regency]] || [[Sigli]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 3133.93}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 379108}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 435275}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 452500}} || 0.707 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.18 || [[Pidie Jaya Regency]] || [[Meureudu]] || 2007 || UU 7/2007 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 953.12}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 132956}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 158397}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 166500}} || 0.736 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.11 || [[Bireuen Regency]] || [[Bireuen]] || 1999 || UU 48/1999 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1793.27}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 389288}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 436418}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 459100}} || 0.723 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.08 || [[North Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Utara) || [[Lhoksukon]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2711.15}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 529751}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 602793}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 632000}} || 0.694 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.73 || [[Lhokseumawe]] City|| || 2001 || UU 2/2001 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 136.49}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 171163}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 188713}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 200400}} || 0.775 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.03 || [[East Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Timur) || [[Idi Rayeuk]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 5432.63}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 360475}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 422401}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 444600}} || 0.678 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.74 || [[Langsa]] City|| || 2001 || UU 3/2001 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 217.17}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 148945}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 185971}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 198000}} || 0.774 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.16 || [[Aceh Tamiang Regency]] || [[Karang Baru]] || 2002 || UU 4/2002 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2184.40}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 251914}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 294356}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 309000}} || 0.694 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.13 || [[Gayo Lues Regency]] || [[Blangkejeren]] || 2002 || UU 4/2002 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 5541.28}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 79560}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 99532}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 106800}} || 0.675 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.17 || [[Bener Meriah Regency]] || [[Simpang Tiga Redelong|Simpang Tiga <br>Redelong]] || 2003 || UU 41/2003 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1930.75}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 122277}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 161342}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 172000}} || 0.732 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.04 || [[Central Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Tengah) || [[Takengon]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 4521.70}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 175527}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 215860}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 226700}} || 0.733 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.05 || [[West Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Barat) || [[Meulaboh]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 2818.17}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 173558}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 198736}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 206800}} || 0.716 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 11.15 || [[Nagan Raya Regency]] || [[Suka Makmue]] || 2002 || UU 4/2002 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 3416.32}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 139663}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 168392}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 176400}} || 0.693 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.12 || [[Southwest Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Barat Daya) || [[Blangpidie]] || 2002 || UU 4/2002 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1882.28}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 126036}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 150780}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 159200}} || 0.669 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.01 || [[South Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Selatan) || [[Tapaktuan]] || 1956 || UU 24/1956 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 4175.37}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 202251}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 232410}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 242000}} || 0.674 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.02 || [[Southeast Aceh Regency]]<br />(Aceh Tenggara) || [[Kutacane]] || 1974 || UU 7/1974 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 4179.12}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 179010}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 220860}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 234400}} || 0.694 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.75 || [[Subulussalam]] City|| || 2007 || UU 8/2007 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1183.60}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 67446}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 90751}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 99100}} || 0.652 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.10 || [[Aceh Singkil Regency]]<br />(including the <br>[[Banyak Islands]])|| [[Singkil, Indonesia|Singkil]] || 1999 || UU 14/1999 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1852.82}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 102509}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 126514}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 135700}} || 0.692 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|-
| 11.09 || [[Simeulue Regency]] || [[Sinabang]] || 1999 || UU 48/1999 ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 1821.75}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 80674}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 92865}} ||align="right"| {{formatnum: 98600}} || 0.664 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}})
|}
{{refbegin}}'''Note:''' UU is an abbreviation from Undang-Undang ([[Law of Indonesia|the Indonesia statute of law]]).{{refend}}

Aceh is unique in Indonesia in grouping its [[Villages of Indonesia|villages]] into mukims. These are sometimes related to traditional indigenous communities. Beginning in September 2023, the Indonesian government provided legal recognition to the claims of some mukims over customary forests.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.mongabay.com/2023/10/for-1st-time-indonesia-government-recognizes-ancestral-forests-in-aceh-but-only-some/ |title=For 1st time, Indonesia government recognizes ancestral forests in Aceh — but only some |author=Hans Nicholas Jong |work=Mongabay |date=26 October 2023 |access-date=25 June 2024}}</ref>

The province comprises two of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to the [[Indonesian Parliament|People's Representative Council]]. 
* The '''Aceh I Electoral District''' consists of 12 of the regencies in the province (Simeulue, Aceh Singkil, South Aceh, Southeast Aceh, West Aceh, Aceh Besar, Pidie, Southwest Aceh, Aceh Jaya, Gayo Lues, Nagan Raya and Pidie Jaya), together with the cities of Bandar Aceh, Sabang and Subulussalam, and elects 7 members to the People's Representative Council. 
* The '''Aceh II Electoral District''' consists of the remaining 6 regencies (East Aceh, Central Aceh, Bireuen, North Aceh, Aceh Tamiang and Bener Meriah), together with the cities of Langsa and Lhokseumawe, and elects 6 members to the People's Representative Council.<ref>Law No. 7/2017 (''UU No. 7 Tahun 2017'') as amended by Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 1/2022 and Regulation of General Elections Commission No. 6/2023.</ref>