BUCHAREST - Romanians went to the polls on Sunday in partial local elections, with the capital Bucharest chosing a new mayor.

The mayoral post in the city has been vacant since May, when then-mayor Nicusor Dan was elected president.

Nearly 1.8 million eligible voters are expected to choose from 17 candidates at 1,289 polling stations in the city. Ten candidates are backed by political parties and seven are running as independents.

Polling stations are scheduled to close at 9 pm (1800 GMT), with those already inside still allowed to vote. Five polling agencies were accredited to conduct exit polls.

Partial local elections are also being held in several other counties to fill vacant mayoral and county council leadership posts.