According to Al Jazeera, around 5.3 million Tunisians are eligible to vote in the landmark elections. Polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. local time and will close at 6:00 p.m. (7:00 to 17:00 GMT).
In the first round of the elections held on November 23, Essebsi was leading 6 points ahead of Marzouki with 39 percent of the votes. Prior to the vote, Essebsi’s party won parliamentary elections in October. Essebsi earlier served first as minister of foreign affairs and as prime minister of Tunisia.
Meanwhile, supporters of Marzouki, who has been elected an interim president in 2011, say he is the only candidate who can guarantee democratic freedoms.
The final result is expected to be declared between December 22 and 24, as reported by Al Jazeera. Under the country's new constitution, passed earlier this year, the elected president will face restricted powers in appointing senior officials, among other provisions.
In the course of the 2011 uprising, known as the Jasmine revolution, then-president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted. The revolution was triggered by poor social and economic situation in Tunisia, as well as by lack of democratic rights and freedoms.
