French presidential run-off election: What you should know
Macron vs Le Pen
The far-right Marine Le Pen and the centrist incumbent President Emmanuel Macron remain the top two contenders.
If opinion surveys are to be trusted, Macron maintains a healthy 10-point advantage over his main rival, a lead that is significantly less than in the 2017 elections, when the same two candidates competed and the incumbent won with 66 percent to 34 percent.
Final run-off: Voting begins
For three million voters in French overseas territories, voting began early, while voting in mainland France started at 0600 GMT and will conclude at 1800 GMT, 12 hours later.
High stake competition
The stakes are high: if Le Pen wins, she will be the first far-right leader in modern French history, as well as the first female president. If Macro wins, he could be the first French president to be re-elected in two decades.
Polling starts in France
Voting stations opened in mainland France on Sunday for the presidential run-off vote between centrist incumbent Emmanuel Macron and his far-right challenger Marine Le Pen, with preliminary results set to be posted starting at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT).
Opinion polls suggest that Macron has a solid lead, but analysts have cautioned that low turnout could sway the outcome in either direction.
Marine Le Pen casts her vote
French far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) presidential candidate Marine Le Pen casts her vote during the second round of France's presidential election at a polling station in Henin-Beaumont, northern France.
Marine Le Pen greets crowd outside polling station
French far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) presidential candidate Marine Le Pen (C) waves as she leaves the polling station after she casted her vote during the second round of France's presidential election in Henin-Beaumont, northern France.
)
)
)
)
)