ULAN BATOR, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Mongolians living abroad started casting their ballots for parliamentary elections on Thursday, several days earlier than voters living in Mongolia.
Mongolia, with a population of 3.5 million, has set June 28 as the date for its next elections of the State Great Khural, the country's unicameral parliament.
A total of 13,095 expatriates registered to vote in places where they are living, according to the country's General Election Commission (GEC). Most have registered in South Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia and China, said the commission.
The expatriates can vote at polling centers located in 35 countries until the end of this week.
The GEC has registered 1,294 candidates from 19 political parties and two coalitions, as well as 42 independents, for the parliamentary elections.
A total of 2,238,360 Mongolian citizens are expected to cast their votes on polling day.
In May 2023, the parliament passed amendments to increase the number of legislators from 76 to 126.
Additionally, parliament members will be elected using a mixed electoral system, in which 78 members will be elected by majority representation and 48 by proportional representation. ■
