France, July 2 -- Nearly 25 million registered voters across Africa's largest country by territory are being asked to choose from 1,235 candidates competing for 407 seats in the lower house of parliament. The deputies will serve five-year terms.

Turnout is expected to be one of the key tests of the vote, after campaign events drew limited public interest. The government declared Thursday a paid national holiday in an effort to encourage people to cast their ballots.

Many Algerians appear more focused on everyday pressures than electoral politics, with purchasing power, inflation and declining public services dominating public concerns. The vote is also taking place against a backdrop of shrinking space for political opposition, independ...