OTTAWA, Jan. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Voters in eastern Canada began to cast their ballots to elect a new prime minister on Monday, just several hours after the party leaders wrapped up their last-ditch efforts to woo more supporters in the country's westend British Colombia.

    Across Canada on Monday, 22.7 million registered voters across 6 time zones are expected to cast ballots for a new leader during 12 hours' time in each of 60,000 polling stations. But the final result may not get out until 3 a.m. GMT, when ballot counting begins on the Pacific coast.

    There are a total of 1,634 people running in 308 ridings in the country's 39th general election, representing 15 political parties. But voters are expected to choose mainly from Liberal Party, Conservative Party New Democratic Party, the French-speaking separatist Bloc Quebecois and the Green Party of environmentalists, with the battle largely between Liberal Paul Martin and Conservative Stephen Harper.

    The final poll points to a Conservative win with a 10-point lead over the Liberals. The Conservatives have maintained their national lead for the last few days. It would form Canada's first conservative government after a 12 year Liberal rule if it wins.

    The desire for change is widespread. Many voters just want to give the Conservatives a chance to tackle thorny issues such as health care, rising crime and tax cuts.

    "Why not give Harper a chance? Maybe he can do well, if no, there will be another election," a geologist from Ontario's southern city of Sandbury told Xinhua at a gathering on the weekend.

    The party leaders stayed on their core messages as they made last-ditch efforts on the final day of campaign on Sunday.

    Liberal Leader Paul Martin continued to warn that voters must choose between his ultra-conservative rivals and the progressive plan offered by Liberals while predicting he will still win at last. The Liberals have been focusing on economic successes and accusing Stephen Harper as being too extremely right.

    Harper, who has promised tax cuts, a crime crackdown and cleaner government, told voters Sunday it is time to change, a message he has repeated during the last few days of the campaign.

    Martin's minority government was toppled in a no-confidence vote in November over a major kickback scandal involving millions of misspent tax dollars, a fiasco that prompted a federal inquiry. Enditem