According to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the total number of deputies of the 12th NPC is 2,983. Here's how the NPC deputies are elected.

Deputies are generated by democratic election according to the Electoral Law.

There are two types of elections:

Deputies to county- and township-level people's congresses are directly voted in by adult members of the public. Candidates who receive more than half of the votes get the position.

And deputies to people's congresses above the county level are elected by deputies at the level immediately below. Those include NPC deputies, deputies to provincial- and municipal level people's congresses.

Successful candidates must receive more than half of the votes.

But if the number of candidates who receive more than half of the votes exceeds the number of vacancies, those with more votes are elected.

According to the Constitution, NPC deputies are elected by people's congresses of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, and the armed forces.