Polls have closed in France’s bitterly divisive presidential election. Early projections suggesting who may have made it through to the runoff are expected shortly.
The frontrunners are far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, centrist newcomer Emmanuel Macron, scandal-hit conservative François Fillon and far-left wildcard Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Sunday’s first round contest was held under tight security after a terror attack in Paris Thursday night disrupted the final day of campaigning Friday.
By 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) 69.42% of France’s 47 million registered voters had cast their ballots, according to the Interior Ministry — a marginally lower turnout than at the same point in 2012.
With 11 names on the ballot, no one candidate is expected to win an outright majority, meaning the top two candidates will face a second and final ballot on May 7.
That means France could end up with a choice between candidates from the far-left and far-right, or a far-right stalwart facing off against a political novice.
The incumbent President, fellow socialist François Hollande, whose approval ratings have remained in the doldrums for several years, made the unusual decision not to run for a second term.
Independent centrist Macron, 39, a former banker, has never held elected office, though he served as economy minister under Prime Minister Manuel Valls.
But he attracted support from left and right with promises to boost the economy and improve security. His party, “En Marche!” which was only created in September, now has more than 200,000 members and his meetings have attracted vast crowds.
Far-right National Front leader Le Pen, 48, is best known for her anti-immigration rhetoric; she told supporters her first move as president would be to impose a temporary ban on legal immigration to France. She has also vowed to take France out of the European Union.
Fillon, the mainstream Republican candidate, was an early favorite for the presidency, but his campaign stumbled because of a scandal over claims he paid his wife and children for work they did not do. He denies any wrongdoing.
Far-left firebrand Mélenchon’s popularity surged in the final weeks of the race, following impressive performances in the candidates’ television debates.