An elderly Syrian presses his ink marked finger on his vote at a polling station in Damascus, capital of Syria, Feb. 26, 2012. Syrians go to the polls on Sunday for a referendum on a new draft constitution, as Damascus struggles under mounting international pressure to carry out reforms and end the country's turmoils. (Xinhua/hazim)

Syrians on Sunday took to about 14,185 polling stations nationwide to vote in a national referendum for the country's new draft constitution, which officials say will transit Syria to political pluralism.

Balloting started at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) and was scheduled to last 12 hours, as the results will be announced Monday.

Interior Minister Lt. Gen Mohammad Shaar said earlier that the balloting could be extended for three more hours to give chance to some 14.6 million eligible voters to cast their votes. He said the referendum will transit Syria to political pluralism, as it's the first since four decades.

The new charter states that the president can only be in office for a maximum of two seven-year terms. Under the constitution, President Bashar al-Assad will end his two seven-year terms in 2014 at the latest and, with it, his family's 40 years of control over the country.

Syrian streets have been decorated with billboards and banners urging Syrians to vote. "Don't turn your back to voting," a billboard reads. "Syria's constitution is the freedom of belief," said the other. Syria's official newspapers splashed front-page headlines deeming today's referendum as an "exceptional" day in the Syrian people's life.

"Voting means an expression of willingness to lay foundation for the most significant stage in the process of reform," said al- Thawra newspaper in an editorial.

It added that voting would delineate the features of the next stage, adding that "most Syrians would found the new constitution as a chance to settle down a lot of outstanding issues."