The Chouf-Aley electoral district, the heartland of MP Walid Jumblat's Druze community, was on Sunday witnessing a heated electoral battle in a region characterized by the presence of several major political parties.

Taimur Jumblat, the head of the Reconciliation List, cast his vote at the Kamal Jumblat School in Mukhtara. He declined to speak to reporters after voting out of respect for the electoral silence rule.

President Michel Aoun cast his vote on Sunday in the country’s parliamentary elections and voiced calls on all Lebanese citizens to practice their “national, democratic right out of conviction.”

“Today the Lebanese are practicing one of the important national political operations where they get to choose MPs who will represent them for the next four years. They must not relinquish their duty to hold lawmakers accountable for their performance,” Aoun told reporters after casting his ballot at a polling station in Haret Hreik.

Lebanon held a much-delayed general election Sunday, with a new civil society coalition hoping for a breakthrough but traditional parties expected to renew their fragile power-sharing bargain.

Lebanon's president said Saturday on the eve of parliamentary elections that he was confident the vote would bring a more proportional government to power, even if his party lost seats.

Polling got under way Sunday across Lebanon, where voters will be electing their parliament for the first time in nine years.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 am across the country, which has an electorate of around 3.7 million, and were due to close 12 hours later. Results from all 15 districts are expected on Monday.

The Interior Ministry launched a hotline number on Saturday dedicated to take control of complaints and inquiries. Individuals can contact the hotline call centre on the toll-free number, 1766, the National News Agency reported.

At 7:00 am Sunday Lebanon will launch its first legislative elections in nine years under “tight security measures,” ensuring a calm electoral process.

The distribution of ballot boxes began at 7:00 am on Saturday, under official supervision, at fund distribution centers around various districts in Lebanon in preparation for crucial parliamentary elections on Sunday.

President Michel Aoun assured on Friday that Lebanon will find a solution for the Syrian refugees crisis “regardless of the EU and U.N.'s opinions because it is an existential threat,” the Presidency media office quoted Aoun.

Army chief General Joseph Aoun held talks at Yarze with head of U.S. Central Command special forces, Major General Darsie Rogers, in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Elizabeth Richard, the National News Agency reported Friday.