Progress

Direct elections of villagers' committees have been underway since the 1980s.

In 1987, a provisional Organic Law of Villagers' Committees was passed, which established the general principles for direct elections to villagers' committees and defined the duties and responsibilities of the managing bodies. Ten years later, the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, made the law permanent.

Over the last decade, election processes have improved and basic norms of a democratic process – secret ballots, direct elections and multiple candidates – have taken hold. In addition, it is possible for candidates to be nominated directly by individual villagers, rather than by a higher-level government or Party organization (which was the practice in the past).

Shi Weimin, a researcher at the Institute of Political Science, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, described the allowance as an outcome of progress. "During the 30 years since China's reform and opening up, villagers' committee elections have experienced the fastest and most fruitful development. It created a form of no pre-election nomination."

These days, local elections are expected. "Villagers cared little at the very beginning," said Zhao, "but now the importance has been attached." Zhao also pointed out that more women are starting to get involved in the rural political scene.

Village elections have also caught international attention, but most importantly they are teaching hundreds of millions of Chinese citizens about their rights and responsibilities.

"It's a necessary education," said Shi.

For many experts and scholars, assessing China's village electoral processes is tied to assessing the country overall.

"An important effect of the village elections is that it may push for direct elections at a higher level," said Xiao Lihui, a professor at the Central Party School, describing their potential.