MANAMA: Voters in Bahrain cast ballots Saturday in the kingdom’s first full parliamentary election since disturbances nearly four years ago.

A total of 419 candidates are running for municipal and parliamentary seats Saturday. Any candidates who do not secure more than 50 percent of the vote will head to a runoff a week later.

The elections will determine the makeup of the 40-seat lower house of Parliament, which has limited direct powers but carries important symbolism as part of political reforms begun more than a decade ago.

Members of the upper house are appointed by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Badriya Malallah, a retired civil servant, said she considered voting to be a national duty.

“We have to vote to protect Bahrain from foreign interference,” she said.

Several candidates have faced intimidation, including some whose cars and campaign facilities were torched before the vote.

Maj. Gen. Tariq Al-Hassan, the public security chief, said authorities boosted security across the country to safeguard the elections. He said police “took appropriate measures” to address complaints of voter intimidation and arrested seven people as police dealt with what were described as “illegal gatherings.”

Government spokeswoman Sameera Rajab told AP that a boycott by the opposition “will not affect the elections.”

Results from the first round of voting are expected Sunday.