Almost three in four French voters have cast their ballots in the presidential election by 5:00 p.m. (1600) Sunday, three hours before all polling stations close, said the Interior Ministry.

The voter turnout rate, 73.8 percent, was much higher than the previous presidential poll in 2002, when it was below 60 percent by 5:00 p.m. in the first round.

The rate has already surpassed the overall turnout rate in the first round in 2002.

The high voter turnout added uncertainty although far right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen may not be able to benefit from the situation.

Voter apathy in 2002 helped Le Pen surprisingly qualify for the second round with incumbent Jacques Chirac.

Although opinion polls had consistently put right-wing candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal as the favorites to enter the run-off, the results remain highly unpredictable as undecided voters may give a chance to centrist Francois Bayrou, third in opinion polls.

Millions of voters were still undecided by Friday when campaigning stopped, according to opinion polls.

In the first round, a large number of voters may find it hard to choose between Royal and Bayrou.

Bayrou poses to bigger threat to Royal than to Sarkozy in the first round because there might be tactical voting in Bayrou's favor, analysts believe. But none is certain as voters might like to vote for Royal to avoid Socialist Party candidate Lionel Jospin 's humiliating defeat by Le Pen in 2002.

Some 44.5 million voters are choosing their new president to replace Chirac after his 12-year rule. If none of the candidates can get over 50 percent of the vote -- which is probably the case, the top two candidates will be in the run-off in two weeks' time.

Source: Xinhua