Supporters of the ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) gather during a party meeting in Sale on october 6 , 2016 ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election. (AFP/Xinhua)

RABAT, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Voters started Friday morning to cast their ballots in Morocco's parliamentary elections, seen as a test for the popularity of the ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD).

The polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) and will close at 7 p.m. (1800 GMT).

The initial voting results are expected to come out late Friday night.

Protests in 2011 led to a new constitution and a parliamentary vote was held later that year, which brought Abdelilah Benkirane's PJD to power.

The PJD-led government, which has taken some unpopular policies in the last five years, particularly reforming the pension system and cutting subsidies on several products, faces strong competition from secular opposition.

The main opposition party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), has vowed to oust PJD from power and revise many decisions made by the government.

In the local and municipal elections in 2015, the PJD's popularity was not affected, and the party even widened its base in urban areas to win almost all major cities.

PAM, however, dominated elections in rural areas and won the elections nationally.

Apart from the PJD-PAM duel, some analysts expect the Istiqlal Party (PI), having the longest history in the country, to do well in this election.

Around 15.7 million Moroccans are registered to vote and over 30 parties are due to take part in the election to win seats in the 395-member Chamber of Representatives, or the lower house of parliament.

Some 4,000 national and international observers have been accredited to monitor the parliamentary elections in Morocco.