ULAN BATOR - Mongolian voters went to the polls on Wednesday for the regular parliamentary elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vote began from 7 am local time (1500 GMT), and will last for 15 hours at 2,070 polling stations across the country, according to the General Election Commission (GEC).

A total of 13 political parties, four coalitions and 137 independent candidates will run for the regular parliamentary elections, and more than 2.1 million Mongolians are eligible to vote, said the GEC.

Preparations were made to protect voters from possible infection while casting ballots, by disinfecting voting stations, marking the standing line at intervals of at 1.5 meter, and providing voters with disposable plastic gloves and face masks, the commission said.

Voters, who wear face masks, have had their body temperature checked and rubbed their hands with sanitizer, are allowed to enter the voting booths.

In addition, voters are prohibited from bringing children under the age of 18 to the polling stations.

The State Great Khural, Mongolia's unicameral parliament, consists of 76 lawmakers serving a four-year term.