Tunisians will vote on Sunday in a presidential run-off where a law professor competes against a media tycoon as the North African country on the Mediterranean grapples with economic and security challenges.
It has been less than a decade since Tunisia, the origin of the 2010-11 Arab Spring revolts, toppled its long-time autocratic government in favour of democratic elections.
Social unrest, militant attacks and an economic slowdown have afflicted the country on its fledgeling democratic path.
The unemployment rate is about 15 per cent.
Media tycoon Nabil Karoui, 56, has been tarnished by corruption allegations.
People queue outside a polling station during the second round of the presidential election. Source: AP
He was released from jail on Wednesday after spending more than a month in custody on money laundering and tax evasion charges.
Mr Karoui, who has not been convicted, presents himself as an advocate of Tunisia's poor and marginalised as the head of the recently founded centre-left Heart of Tunisia party.
Law professor Kais Saied, 61, is an independent with no political experience. He has pledged to fight corruption and support decentralisation.
Both topped the election's first round on 15 September, defeating contenders from mainstream political parties.
A voter casts her ballot. Source: AP
About 7.2 million people were registered to vote, with more than 4,500 polling stations to participate across the country on Sunday.
The election, originally scheduled for November, was pushed forward by the death of Tunisia's first democratically elected president, Beji Caid Essebsi, in July, five months before the end of his term.
