BEIT-UL-MOQADDAS (AFP) - Members of Israel's governing Kadima party were voting for a new leader on Wednesday, with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni favored by opinion polls to replace scandal-plagued Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Livni, who was expected to benefit if turnout proved high, urged Kadima members to come out and vote for a new party leader – who could go on to become prime minister.
""People know they can make a change,"" she said after casting her ballot in Tel Aviv.
""The change begins here, at the polling booth,"" said Livni, whose reputation for integrity has kept her out of the scandals that have plagued Kadima and Olmert.
With five hours to go before polls were due to close, turnout by 5 pm (1400 GMT) was estimated at only 20 percent, but many party members were expected to vote after work.
Despite Livni's commanding lead, her main rival, Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz remained upbeat.
""I stand behind my belief that I am going to win,"" the hawkish former general said after voting near Tel Aviv.
Two other ministers trailed far behind.
The election looks unlikely to end the political turmoil brought on by graft accusations against Olmert, as it remains uncertain whether the new Kadima leader will get enough support to form a government and take over the premiership.
The political turbulence further dims chances of reaching a Middle East peace deal by the end of the year, a goal Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas had set at a U.S. conference that relaunched talks last November.
Olmert, who announced on July 30 that he would step down once his Kadima party has picked a new leader, has faced public uproar over a string of graft investigations that could lead to criminal charges against him.
Kadima was expected to announce the name of its new leader early on Thursday if the winner garners at least 40 percent. Otherwise, the top two vote-getters will head to a September 24 run-off election.