In pictures: China's village ballot box

In his victory speech, Zheng Jifu promises to deal properly with all the village issues and to be open to "public supervision".

Some Party leaders hope that making officials more accountable to the public will help curb the rampant corruption which is making the Party increasingly unpopular.

Although more powerful officials are still not directly elected, Zheng Jifu knows that in three years' time, his position will once again be in the hands of the villagers.