All the peoples, of all ages, communities and faith groups, went to the polling stations and cast their votes in the cantons of Qamishlo, Hesekê, Kobanê, Efrîn, Girê Spî and Shehba for a free election in Democratic Northern Syria Federation on Friday.

12.421 candidates are running for the co-chair position in 3.732 communes. As per the High Commissary for Elections’ announcement, commune houses were used as polling stations.

The election started simultaneously in all stations at 08.00 in the morning with high morale, and ended at 20:00 local time, while it was prolonged until 22:00 in Efrîn Canton as people continued to cast their votes.

People going to ballot boxes were seen to be overwhelmed by enthusiasm as they joyfully participated in the commune co-chairs election.

Friday’s election is believed by most of the people to be the beginning of the building of a democratic Syria. Everyone started to go to the polling stations starting from early morning hours.

“This is the first time we are governing ourselves. We are overwhelmed with the joy of elections for days”, said the voters.

People voted democratically and elected their representatives for the first time in Til Berak and Til Hemis districts in Qamishlo Canton, as well as Hawl and Shaddadi districts in Hesekê Canton.

Dressed in their finest traditional garments as if preparing for attending the Newroz holiday, women and men, young and old, everyone went to the stations and cast their votes.

90 years old Mihemed Yusiv came to cast his vote leaning on his wooden walking stick. He said: "This is a historic day in the chronicles of the local peoples." Another man was standing in the voting queue in front of the Martyr Dilgeş Commune, holding his medicines in one hand and clutching hand his voting card with the other.

A citizen from the Assyrian community, Kirdiyanos Marokin (father of Martyr Corc Marokin) said: "I congratulate all peoples of Northern Syria on the communal elections. We hope that the elections will initiate the reconstruction process of a free and democratic Syria."

Syriacs in Heseke Canton of Cizire Region also showed great interest in the vote and headed to the polling stations through the day.

TEV-DEM (Movement for a Democratic Society) Executive Council member Aldar Xelîl cast his vote in the Martyr Mîdya Commune in Nasra neighbourhood Hesekê Canton.

PYD (Democratic Union Party) Co-chair Asya Abdullah, who voted in Martyr Cûdî Commune Centre in Dêrik, said communes constitute the basic component for the organisation of a society organised and remarked that the people are securing their self-organisation through these elections.

Northern Syria Federal System Executive Council Co-chair Foza Yusif highlighted that this was the first time ever that democratic and free elections are held in Syria without use of force on the people. Yusif said they are creating a democratic system and society and added: "This election is the first step towards victory and progress."

Northern Syria Democratic Federation Constituent Assembly Co-chair Hediye Yusif and Syrian Democratic Council Co-chair İlham Ehmed cast their votes in Martyr Orhan commune in Hilêliyê neighbourhood of Qamishlo.