'I want to vote for someone new': Voters in south try their lot with independent candidates

"My daughter dragged me from Saida to come and vote for you," a woman coming out of the polling centre in Bint Jbeil told independent candidate Hassan Bazzi, a lawyer running with the Together Towards Change list in South III constituency.

Bazzi said he was feeling optimistic, despite describing elections in the south as "a very significant and difficult battle".

"We are hopeful that we will be able to secure at least one seat [of 11]," Bazzi said.

Many southerners have expressed disenchantment with traditional parties in the south, with some saying they will either boycott or cast blank votes.

When asked about voting for independents, many said they remain wary of candidates they are not familiar with and what they stand for.

"We come from national homes who have fought against the Israeli occupation, but our focus right now is on Lebanon's internal issues, and people's pain," said Bazzi.

"We are comparing their accomplishments and what we have accomplished as individuals. They renewed the mandate of the central bank governor Riad Salemeh, while we pursued him. They are running with bankers, while we have been fighting the banks."

Lebanon has been going through a crippling financial crisis for over two years, with the country's financial collapse heavily blamed on a corrupt political elite which has ruled Lebanon since the end of the civil war in 1990.

"The same parties have been in control for over 30 years and they have accomplished nothing," said Ali, 36, who cast his vote for Together for Change list.

"I want to vote for someone new, even if they might be lying, or not, but at least I won't be voting for someone who has been giving us the same lies for 30 years."