People's congresses elections see increases in turnout, representation

More than 2.6 million new deputies have been directly elected to people's congresses in townships and county-level regions across China, nearly 150,000 more than the previous election, the country's top legislature said on Sunday.

The new elections began in the first half of last year and concluded at the end of June, according to a statement provided by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Over 1 billion voters cast their ballots on a one-person-one-vote basis in the latest elections for lawmakers at the two primary levels, the most vivid example of whole-process people's democracy, the statement said.

In accordance with the country's amended electoral law, the base number of deputies to people's congresses at township and county levels have both been increased to enhance participation in political affairs from the primary level.

The new elections, for example, saw a rise of workers, farmers and technicians among the elected deputies, and also witnessed an increase in the proportion of women and those from ethnic minority groups.

Following the elections, all regions convened the first meeting of the new people's congress attended by the newly elected deputies, with election of leading roles in government agencies at that level. The statement said the move supported the country in building political power and guaranteed the people are the masters of the nation.