(VOVworld) - Tunisians are voting in the country's first presidential election since the Jasmine Revolution that ignited the 2011 "Arab Spring", triggering uprisings across the region. Most polling stations were opening at 08:00 am local time and due to close 10 hours later. However, voting time is limited to only 5 hours in border places with Algeria with strong rebels’ presence.

Around 5.3 million voters will cast their ballots and 10,000 policemen and soldiers have been deployed to ensure security at polling stations due to concerns that Islamic rebels may escalate their activities to undermine the election. There are 27 candidates in the race, but 87 year-old former Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi is widely seen to win the election.