Tunisia holds first post-revolution presidential poll
Tunisians hope the election will strengthen post-revolutionary changes in the country
Tunisians are voting in the country's first presidential election since the 2011 "Arab Spring" that triggered uprisings across the region.
More than 25 candidates are in the race, but incumbent Moncef Marzouki and anti-Islamist leader Beji Caid Essebsi are widely seen as the favourites.
The poll forms part of a political transition after the revolution that ousted Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.
A parliamentary vote was held in October.
Tunisia - seen as the birthplace of the Arab Spring - is considered to have had the most successful outcome, with relatively low levels of violence.
'Security threats'
Sunday's election will deliver the country's first directly elected leader since the removal of Mr Ben Ali. Most polling stations were opening at 08:00 (07:00 GMT) and due to close 10 hours later.
Tunisians hope the election will strengthen post-revolutionary changes in the country
Security has been stepped up across the country ahead of the election
If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, a run-off round will be held on 31 December.
"We were the first to enter this cycle of change which they have called the Arab Spring," Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa was quoted as saying on the eve of the poll.
"We will be the first [to make the transition] but others will follow," he added.
Mr Essebsi, from the Nidaa Tounes (Tunisia's Call) party, is the favourite to win after his party came first in the parliamentary election.
But critics say Mr Essebsi, an 87-year-old who served in the governments of post-independence leader Habib Bourguiba as well as Mr Ben Ali, represents the past.
Among the other candidates are Mr Marzouki, parliamentary Speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar, Republican Party leader Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, female magistrate Kalthoum Kannou and businessman Slim Riahi.
The Islamist party Ennahda, which led Tunisia's last government but was beaten by Nidaa Tounes in October's parliamentary election, did not field a candidate.
A statement from Ennahda leader Rachid Ghannouchi spoke of wanting "to avoid deepening polarisation or dividing the country". Ennahda's rise had led to concerns among more secular-minded Tunisians that Islamists would dominate politics.
Tunisia is still facing the spectre of civil unrest and terrorism, with Interior Minister Lotfi Ben Jeddou warning of "serious security threats" near the Algerian border where al-Qaeda militants are said to be hiding.
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