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- More than 1.7 million Libyans cast ballots, an election official says
- Eight polling stations closed by violence were opened Sunday, an official says
- There are more than 3,500 candidates vying for 200 seats in the national assembly
- Libyans last voted 42 years ago -- before Moammar Gadhafi came to power
Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Preliminary results are expected Monday in Libya's first parliamentary elections after more than four decades under the autocratic, iron rule of the late Moammar Gadhafi.
The tallying of ballots began shortly after voting closed on Saturday, though more were added to the mix Sunday when eight polling stations were opened after violence on election day stopped voters from casting ballots.
More than 1.7 million Libyans -- roughly 60% of the nation's 2.8 million registered voters -- cast ballots on Saturday, said Nuri Khalifa Al-Abbar, chairman of Libya's High National Election Commission. Sunday's figures were not immediately available.
The winners are expected to be announced at the earliest by the end of the week, the state-run LANA news agency reported.
The parliamentary vote is a litmus test for a post-Gadhafi Libya. The new national assembly will be tasked with appointing a transitional government and crafting a constitution.
The election came 17 months after political demonstrations against Gadhafi broke out in two Libyan cities. Those demonstrations spread, leading to a civil war, NATO air strikes, and Gadhafi's death by a bullet to the head in October.
The last time Libya held an election was almost half a century ago and for many people, the act of casting a ballot was novel after 42 years of Gadhafi's rule.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the Libyan people on the election and also hailed the electoral staff for "well-conducted and transparent" polling.
"Last year, thousands of Libyans sacrificed their lives or suffered lasting injury in order to win the right of the Libyan people to build a new state founded on human dignity and the rule of law," Ban said in a statement Sunday.
"Yesterday, their determination was again on display as men and women, young and old, cast their ballots, many with deep emotion, even in some areas where they faced threats to their security."
There was significant voter participation, with about 80% of the nation's 3.5 million eligible voters registered by Saturday. But the election indicated a strong interest among people interested in being part of the nation's fledgling government as well.
More than 3,500 candidates stood in the election for a 200-seat national assembly.
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