Polling amid unprecedented security days after Champs Elysees attack

France went to the polls on Sunday, amidst heavy security, in what has turned out to be an unusually tight and unpredictable race. The country is on edge following Thursday night’s attack in Paris’s Champs Elysees, which killed one police officer; 50,000 police and 7,000 army personnel had been deployed to ensure polling goes smoothly.

Armed officers could be seen patrolling the streets and visiting polling stations, which opened at 8 AM local time. Turnout was 69.42% at 1500 GMT, one of its highest levels in 40 years, data from the Interior Ministry showed. The final voter turnout in 2012 was 79.5%.

France has 47 million eligible voters. Most polling booths closed at 5 PM with those in urban centres staying open an hour later.

High unemployment, differences of opinion on the public sector and government spending, globalisation, questions of whether to continue within the European Union (EU), migration and security are some of the key issues driving this year’s votes.

An Ipsos-Cevipof-Le Monde pre-poll survey released on Wednesday had independent centrist and new face, Emmanuel Macron in the lead with 24% followed closely by the far right leader of the Front National, Marine Le Pen, at 22 %.