Beijingers went to the polls¡¡Wednesday to elect deputies for the local people's congress.

"I insist on coming and voting by myself because this is a golden opportunity to exert our democratic rights," said Hang Enliang, 96, from Beijing's Niujie Street, home of many of the city's Muslims.

Ninety-four-year-old Su Shuhua casts her ballot at a polling station in Beijing's Chongwen District yesterday as the city started electing deputies for the local people's congresses of its 18 districts and counties. [China Daily]

"The expansion of Niujie mosque and the renovation of an endangered house were proposed by congress deputies," said Hang, who is a Muslim.

Together with State leaders, millions of residents in Beijing yesterday cast their votes in the 12,000-plus polling booths in the city.

They will elect 4,403 deputies to the congresses of 18 districts and counties, and nearly 10,000 members of congresses in towns.

Statistics show that more than 8 million residents of Beijing are registered as qualified voters for the unprecedented grass-roots reshuffle in the capital. Voters must be at least 18, and registered permanent residents.

Election officials checked identities, and then voters took a voting card, drew a circle around candidates they supported and crosses over once they did not, and dropped the card in a red box in the middle of the room.

To ensure that the disabled did not miss their chance to vote, several staff from community commissions went door-to-door collecting votes.

Xue Tianli, a 73-year-old man from Niujie Mosque, was up for election. Conducting services with Muslims everyday, Xue said he has the chance to listen to the grass-roots opinion, understand their demands and reflect it to the congress.

Already a deputy three times, Xue is expecting some changes.

"I am already 73 years old. I want younger and more energetic deputies to take my place in the congress," said Xue.

Liu Jingsheng, 18, a senior in No 125 high school in Chongnei Community, Dongcheng District, said: "This is the first time in my life I've had the right to vote. I feel grown up,"

Elections nationwide are expected to involve 900 million people and last until the end of 2007.

They take place every five years. Deputies meet at least once a year, while standing committees meet more regularly, approximately every two months.