Zapatero first of the three main leaders to vote

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Spanish PM and his wife

Spaniards began voting Sunday in local and regional elections seen as a dry run for general elections next year.

Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and opposition leader Mariano Rajoy of the conservative Popular Party campaigned as if they themselves were up for re-election, not just mayors and councilors nationwide and the legislatures of 13 of the 17 regions.

Spanish Prime Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was the first of the main political leaders to vote. Zapatero cast his ballot at 10:00 in Madrid's district of Moncloa-Aravaca. He encouraged the Spanish citizens to vote as "that will make us a stronger country".

Leader of the communist party IU Gaspar Llamazares cast its ballot at about 10:30 in the district of Chamberí, north Madrid. He said he was convinced the citizens' vote will help to finish with the urban development corruption.

Conservative leader Mariano Rajoy is expected to vote in the district of Moncloa-Aravaca at 12:00.

At stake are 8.111 town and city halls as well as the regional governments of 13 autonomous communities and the parliamentary assemblies of the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

Pre-election polls suggested there will be little change this time with the two main parties retaining their respective regional strongholds. Voting ends at 1800 GMT, with results expected around 2000 GMT.