Grassroots elections at the township and county levels are underway in China. Beijing residents made their voices heard at the ballot box on Friday.
In Sikuaiqu Neighborhood of Bejing, voting for District National People's Congress (NPC) deputies started in the cold winter morning at 6 a.m. and lasted until midnight.
There had been lines before the usual official opening hour of nine at the temporary polling station. From the very old to the young, many in queue say they've been anticipating this moment.
Yu Zhiming, an 86-year-old war veteran, told CGTN that he got up at 4:30 in the morning for the important day.
"I wanted to make it here early as I could to exercise my democratic right," said the veteran, who had brought his honor medals with him for the occasion.
"Voting for representatives is crucial for our lives and crucial for the district's development. My vote counts," he continued.
He also said he planned to work with the elected to "better build our homes."
Li Xuanye, a 32-year-old local, also choose to vote early in the day.
"Even though we can come any time throughout the day, I want to come as early as possible to cast my vote. It's a sacred act," she said.
The neighborhood street committee said they spent months preparing for the voting.
"We reached out to every single resident here, telling them about this election and their voting rights," said Zhang Jing, secretary of Sikuaiyu Neighborhood the Communist Party of China (CPC) Branch. She is also director at the Sikuaiyu Neighborhood Street Committee.
Voting for NPC deputies is a key part of the country's whole-process people's democracy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said in 2014 that "Democracy is defined not only by people's right to vote in an election but also by the right to participate in political affairs on a daily basis.”
Sun Zhenping, administrative office director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, recently told CGTN that the people's congress system is an important institutional carrier in 'whole-process people's democracy.'
"This system has a significant advantage, which is to inspire a sense of responsibility and mission in people as masters of their own affairs," Sun said.
And for Siquaiyu Neighborhood's democracy process, it's a whole year's worth of engagement.
Li Xuanye added that when she met the candidates last month, she began talking to them and making sure her voices and needs heard.
Zhang Jing, from the neighborhood street committee, said her team had tried to set up new ways to facilitate that process.
"For example, our neighborhood has a 'mobile council' that starts at 6:30 p.m. so that people who got off work can participate on their way home," she said, adding that it's important to engage the younger generation.
Residents like Yu and Li also emphasized that even after the election, they'll continue to keep a close eye on their elected deputies to make sure they do their jobs, and serve the people.
(Cover: A grassroots election for district National People's Congress deputy in Sikuaiyu Neighborhood, Dongcheng District, Beijing, November 5, 2021. /CGTN)