Nationwide voting began on Sunday in Panama for the election of the country's president and 1,594 other public posts, Xinhua reported.
Voting started at 7:00 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will conclude at 4:00 p.m. (2100 GMT). Preliminary results for the presidential race are expected later Sunday.
The leading candidates to replace the current president, Martin Torrijos, are Ricardo Martinelli of the opposition Democratic Change Party, Balbina Herrera of the ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party and former president Guillermo Endara.
Also up for grabs are 71 seats in the National Assembly, 20 seats in the Central American Parliament, 75 mayoral posts and 623 local council seats.
The country has been divided into 14 electoral areas for this year's vote. Panamanians living abroad will be able to vote for the first time.
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