Voting has begun in areas of war-torn Syria controlled by President Bashar al-Assad. More than 3-thousand candidates are competing for the 250 parliamentary seats. Opposition groups are boycotting.

The election is expected to see Assad's Baath party maintain control over parliament, although several parties are participating. The controversial polls come at a tense time, as violence has surged in recent days. It is the second ballot since the war began in 2011. 

The conflict has claimed over 270-thousand lives and displaced half of the country's population. The streets of Damascus are plastered with campaign posters and banners, and many residents there are critical of the vote.

"It's an illegal and empty election. It's a lie, and people on the outskirts are still being killed. The fighting on the frontlines with the Islamic State group is still ongoing," said Zohair Al-shemaly, a carpenter.

"Of course it's an illegal election because not all the people are concerned. Most of the people have toppled this government and don't recognize it. Of course they're only asking the people who support them for their opinion," said Alaa Karman, a teacher.

"I don't believe in the elections, and I never believed in previous ones. The names are already chosen, president Bashar al-Assad just wants to show that there is a state, that there is a population and a solid government, but I consider the government rusted from the inside," said Mohamed Zobeidiyye, a mechanic.