Local elections are one of the few ways for Palestinians to exercise their democratic rights.

But this weekend’s vote appears to have diluted that.

No ballots were cast in Ramallah and Nablus because there weren’t enough candidates.

Turnout was 25 percent in Deir el-Balah, the only area in Gaza where voting happened.

Most candidates were from the Palestinian Authority’s Fatah party and its affiliates.

Hamas, which controls Gaza, stayed away.