Lebanon kicked off the first phase of its long-delayed municipal elections on Sunday, with polls opening across the Mount Lebanon governorate.

The vote marks the first time in nine years that Lebanese citizens are selecting members of their local governing councils, with the last elections held in 2016. The subsequent vote, originally scheduled for 2022, was postponed three times due to political gridlock and budget constraints.

Mount Lebanon, home to hundreds of towns and villages, is the first region to head to the polls. The remaining governorates will follow suit over the next three weekends.

According to official figures, 9,321 candidates are vying for municipal and mukhtar (mayoral) positions in Mount Lebanon. Of those, 8,142 are men and 1,179 are women. A total of 68 municipalities won by acclamation.

Lebanon continues to use the bloc vote system for municipal elections, a majority-based mechanism that allows voters to cast as many votes as there are seats in their respective councils. The highest vote-getters win the seats. In the event of a tie, the older candidate is declared the winner; if candidates are of the same age, the winner is selected by lottery.

Despite the challenges, the municipal vote is seen as a rare opportunity for democratic renewal at the grassroots level, as local councils continue to play a critical role in daily governance.

Polls in Mount Lebanon will remain open until 7 p.m., with initial results expected late Sunday or early Monday.