Polls closed Sunday evening in Lebanon’s Mount Lebanon governorate after a full day of municipal and mayoral elections, as electoral staff began counting ballots in towns and villages across the region.

Out of 834,168 registered voters in Mount Lebanon, 366,470 cast their ballots, according to figures provided by the Kataeb Party’s election monitoring team, putting the overall turnout at 45.25 percent.

According to the Interior Ministry, turnout figures varied across districts within the governorate, with the highest reported in Keserwan at 60.98 percent and the lowest in Metn at 38.9 percent. Other participation rates included 57.63 percent in Jbeil, 46.18 percent in Chouf, 42.44 percent in Aley, and 39.17 percent in Baabda.

By the end of the day, the ministry’s Central Operations Room had received 481 complaints, 11 of which were related to security concerns. The rest were categorized as administrative.

In a separate statement, the Interior Minister’s office said 12 complaints were filed regarding alleged electoral bribery in various areas of Mount Lebanon. The information was referred to the Internal Security Forces for verification and legal follow-up in coordination with the competent judiciary.

Shortly after the polls were closed, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam headed to the Interior Ministry to oversee the vote-counting process.

Speaking to media reporters, Salam praised the elections as a “true display of democracy,” commending the Interior Ministry’s preparedness and the largely smooth conduct of the vote.

“The municipal elections are an opportunity to hold former officials accountable, to inject new blood into local councils, and to revitalize development,” he said.

Salam stressed that the vote had proceeded without disruptions and that administrative complaints were handled swiftly and efficiently.

Sunday’s vote marks the first phase of Lebanon’s long-delayed local elections, taking place amid growing demands for improved governance and basic services. 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.

Polling stations across Mount Lebanon opened early in the morning and closed at 7 p.m. local time. The Interior Ministry, with support from local authorities, oversaw logistics while security forces were deployed to ensure order throughout the day. The voting process proceeded largely without incident.