Kuwait, have started to cast their ballots in the seventh legislative election

On Wednesday result will be announced....

In just over a decade voters in Kuwait have started to cast their ballots in the seventh legislative election, due to repeated political crises that have undermined parliament and stalled reforms.

At 8am polling began on Tuesday and will continue till 8pm. On Wednesday result will be announced, according to the official Kuwait News Agency.

More than 793,000 eligible voters will have the chance to determine the makeup of the 50-seat legislature in the only Gulf Arab state to have an elected parliament with powers to hold the government to account.

A total of 207 candidates are running for a four-year term as lawmakers, the lowest number in a general election since 1996. They include opposition figures and 13 women.

Kuwait’s emir, Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, called the vote last month after he had again dissolved parliament amid a persistent political deadlock.

Constant stand-offs between the branches of government have prevented lawmakers from passing economic reforms, while repeated budget deficits and low foreign investment have added to an air of gloom.

In Kuwait's petroleum industry lack of stability has also scared off investors, which accounts for seven percent of the world’s crude reserves.

Despite widespread frustration with the political elite, human rights activist Hadeel Buqrais said it was still important to cast a ballot.