Addis Ababa, Jun 21 (IANS): Millions of Ethiopians went to the polls on Monday to vote in the country's sixth general elections to elect more than 9,000 parliamentary and regional council candidates.

The twice-postponed elections are being held in seven of the 10 regional states, with voters expected to choose candidates vying for 440 of the 547 parliamentary seats in the East African country, reports Xinhua news agency.

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia had previously disclosed security and logistical challenges as well as faulty ballots and electoral malpractices, which had forced it to postpone the voting over 107 of the 547 parliamentary seats.

Ethiopians will also choose candidates from 46 regional and national parties, with the ruling Prosperity Party widely expected to win the polls.

Preliminary results of the voting are set to be announced within five days after the end of it.

Last week, the electoral board said it had given badges to more than 45,000 local poll observers.

In Ethiopia's parliamentary government system, a prime minister, the highest authority of the land, is selected from the party that wins the most seats at the federal parliament level, and sworn in after parliamentary voting.