Chinese President Xi Jinping casts his ballot at a voting booth to elect new deputies for the local people's congress in his district in Beijing, capital of China, November 15, 2016 (XINHUA)

Chinese President Xi Jinping cast his ballot at a polling station in Beijing on to elect new deputies to the local people's congress.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee—Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli—also cast their votes in Beijing.

Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao voted by proxy.

Xi cast his vote at a polling station in Huairentang, Zhongnanhai electoral district in Xicheng District of Beijing, along with over 1,200 other voters.

Around 10 a.m., Xi arrived at the polling station, gave his elector's card to staff and got a ballot. He cast his ballot after filling it.

Xi said the county and township-level election is a major political event of the country, requiring adherence to the Party's leadership, democratic spirit and acting in accordance with laws, to ensure the people's right to vote and the right to be elected.

He called for a zero-tolerance attitude toward electoral misconduct.

It is the second election since the Electoral Law granted equal representation for rural and urban residents.

Since 1995, each rural deputy had represented a population four times that of their urban counterparts.

The elections of local people's congresses have commenced across the country and will continue till next year.

"Elections in China are becoming more open and transparent. Participation is crucial, and the people have shown great enthusiasm," said Liu Wei of Renmin University of China.

Other senior officials and retired officials of the CPC Central Committee, the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the State Council, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee and the Central Military Commission, also voted either in person or by proxy.

About 9 million people cast their ballots at a total of 12,270 polling stations in Beijing, to elect 4,373 new deputies to the people's congresses of district level, and 9,946 deputies to township-level people's congresses.

According to the law, candidates must be nominated by political parties, social organizations, or a minimum of 10 voters in their constituency.

Before the final vote, electoral committees will, on voters' request, arrange for candidates to meet with voters to introduce themselves and answer questions.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2016)