Bahrainis have started voting to elect their second post-reforms parliament, amid tension between the government and the opposition which boycotted polls in 2002.
On Friday, the main Shia Muslim opposition group warned the Sunni-led authorities that any attempt to rig the parliamentary and municipal polls would be opposed.
Hundreds of men and women had queued waiting for the polling stations to open at 8am (0500 GMT).
About 295,000 voters are entitled to elect 39 MPs in an equivalent number of constituencies. There are a total of 207 candidates, including 17 women.
One seat in the 40-strong chamber has already gone to Latifa al-Qouhoud, a woman who stood unopposed in her constituency, making her the first female member of parliament in the kingdom's history.
Hundreds of men and women had queued waiting for the polling stations to open at 8am (0500 GMT).
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The Islamic National Accord Association (INAA), which is the major Shia formation in the kingdom, is fielding 17 candidates, while the left-leaning National Democratic Action Association has presented six candidates.
Both boycotted the 2002 polls protesting at the split of legislative powers between the parliament and an equally numbered upper chamber appointed by the monarch.
Municipal elections are taking place simultaneously, while second rounds in both polls will take place on December 2.