A draft amendment on China's electoral law that guarantees the number of local deputies representing farmers, workers and intellectuals was reviewed on December 22 by a bimonthly session of China's top legislature.

The amendment requires that "both rural and urban areas adopt the same ratio of deputies to the represented population in elections of People's Congress deputies."

As the law now stands, one National People's Congress (NPC) deputy represents each 960,000 rural residents or each 240,000 urban residents. Residents do not directly vote for NPC deputies, which are selected by local People's Congresses.

Critics say this could mean that farmers only enjoy a quarter of the suffrage of their urban counterparts. The draft amendment will be deliberated at the NPC's annual session next year.