Palestinian security officers wait to cast their early votes during local elections at a polling station in the West Bank town of Jenin

Palestinians have begun voting for new mayors and local councils across the West Bank, in the first election in six years.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement hope Saturday's vote in 93 communities will revive flagging popular support. Some 515,000 registered voters are eligible and results are expected Sunday, reports The Associated Press.

But there's widespread voter apathy. That's in part because Fatah's main rival, the Islamic militant Hamas, is boycotting the West Bank election and has banned voting in Gaza, the territory it seized from Abbas in 2007. Hamas says the political camps must reconcile ahead of any elections.

Even with Hamas out of the picture, Fatah could still lose. In several towns, Fatah renegades are competing against the official Fatah slates. A low turnout would also boost Hamas.