Syrians in Assad government-controlled areas are heading to polling stations on July 15 to vote in parliamentary elections, the fourth time since the civil war in the country came to a halt following Russian and Iranian intervention.

Despite the official vote, Syria's opposition based in Europe and the US condemned the election as "absurd," arguing that polls organised by the government "only represent the ruling authority," meanwhile the Assad government does not acknowledge their existence.  

State-controlled Syrian Arab News Agency reported that voting centres across Syrian governorates opened their doors to voters electing members of the People's Assembly (Parliament) for the fourth legislative term.

A total of 1,516 candidates are competing for 250 seats in what critics describe as a largely rubber-stamp parliament.

The ruling Baath party, in power since 1963, and its allies are expected to maintain their dominance, facing minimal opposition with independents as the only alternative.

Under Syria's quota system, 127 seats are reserved for workers and farmers, while 123 are open to other professions.

According to the election committee, voting is taking place at 8,151 polling stations across government-held territories, carefully located in large population centres and labour gatherings.

The Interior Ministry has provided all necessary electoral materials, including secret ink, envelopes, registers, and ballot papers. Voting rights extend to all Syrian citizens aged 18 and over, as stipulated in the General Election Law No. 5 of 2014.

However, the election excludes millions of Syrians living in areas outside government control, including the Kurdish-controlled northeast, rebel-held regions along the Turkish border, and the jihadist-controlled Idlib province.

Syrians who have fled the country as refugees also cannot participate.

Polling stations are scheduled to close at 7:00 pm local time (1700 CET), with the possibility of a five-hour extension in all or some voting centres, as permitted by the election law.

The war, which began with the suppression of anti-government protests in 2011, has claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced millions.

Despite regaining control of much territory with support from allies Iran and Russia, the Assad government continues to face international criticism and sanctions. However, in recent months, Persian Gulf Arab monarchies who mostly opposed his rule have begun to allow Syria back into the fold.

Earlier in the week, the first Syrian Airlines flight arrived in Saudi Arabia after several years.

Election results are expected to be announced in the coming days, though they are unlikely to significantly alter Syria's political landscape.