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Hong Kong voters headed for the poll booths on Sunday to cast ballots in an unofficial referendum about whether they should be able directly elect the territory's chief executive.

Even before physical voting began, more than 603,000 votes had already been cast online in the preceding two days. In all, about 3.5 million people were registered to vote in the last official elections, in 2012.

Voters who preferred to cast their ballots in person braved the rain to visit one of the 15 polling centers set up around the city.

"People were lining up to vote. It shows that Hong Kong people have a strong desire for genuine democracy," said Benny Tai, one of the founders of the Occupy Central movement, which organized the ballot.

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