BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has vowed to spot and punish malpractice in the current round of local elections.

More than 900 million Chinese will elect over 2.5 million lawmakers at county and township levels in the elections running into next year.

In a Monday statement, the CPC stressed a ban on forming factions, bribery, fraud and leaking confidential information, among other types of malpractice. It urged local Party committees, disciplinary organs and organizational departments to carefully oversee the elections.

"Disciplinary violations... must be punished on a case by case basis and publicized in a timely manner," the statement said.

In a massive electoral fraud case in Hengyang City of Hunan Province in 2013, 56 provincial legislators offered 110 million yuan (18 million U.S. dollars) in bribes to nearly 600 municipal lawmakers and members of staff.

A total of 467 people have been given Party or administrative punishment for their roles in the case, and 69 were transferred to judicial organs.

The CPC called for the establishment of specialist groups to investigate violations and supervise punishment.

"Supervisory officials will be pursued and punished for nonfeasance and jobbery," the statement added.

The public can report electoral malpractice to organizational departments at or above county level via the Internet, SMS, hotlines or personal visits.

Source: Xinhua, at: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/18/c_135290511.htm