Kuwaitis voted Saturday in a divisive parliamentary election held under a new electoral law that triggered an opposition boycott.

Witnesses say turnout appeared lighter than usual in several districts.

Voters were choosing candidates for all 50 of the Gulf emirate's parliament seats.

The opposition said the vote favors supporters of the Western-backed emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah. The long-ruling al-Sabah family already controls the Kuwaiti Cabinet.

In October, the emir used emergency powers to end a rare electoral law that allowed four choices per voter. Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters denounced the move, saying such changes would undercut their rising clout in the oil-rich nation.