Mongolian herder, Suren Tsevelmaa, takes a break from her usual chores to vote in Thursday's parliamentary election.<br/> <br />Thirteen parties are in the fray.<br/> <br />Electronic voting has debuted in this village polling station.<br/> <br />Officials hope this will speed up counting and also discourage claims of inaccuracy which sparked violence in the last elections.<br/> <br />Issues such as social equality, corruption and how to share profits from the mining industry are top priority for many voters.<br/> <br />Tsevelmaa's vote, like that of many herders, was strongly swayed by pledges to control the country's booming mining sector which could threaten their livlihood.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: HERDER, SUREN TSEVELMAA (Mongolian) SAYING<br/> <br />"I think they shouldn't let there be so much mining. I hear a lot about digging all over the grasslands. I want them to keep this country safe and protect the natural environment,"<br/> <br />Some voters feel foreign firms have too much control over the exploitation of huge new reserves, mainly serving energy hungry neighbour, China.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: 20-YEAR-OLD STUDENT ENKHTUVSHIN URANBILEG (Monglian) SAYING:<br/> <br />"We get a lot of information on the internet about Mongolian mineral resources being sold to foreigners, particularly to the Chinese, and young Mongolians are getting very angry about it. I want this problem to be solved in a way that benefits Mongolians,"<br/> <br />The ballot result is expected in the early hours of Friday morning local time.<br/> <br />Masako Iijima, Reuters
