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Rousseff and Neves vie to lead Brazil in tight election Brazil election: Rousseff and Neves in tight contest
(about 4 hours later)
Polls have opened in Brazil in what correspondents say is the tightest presidential election for decades. Voting is drawing to a close in Brazil after one of the most bitterly-contested and tightest presidential elections.
Incumbent left-leaning President Dilma Rousseff of the Workers Party (PT) faces centrist Aecio Neves of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) in the second run-off round. Left-leaning President Dilma Rousseff faced centrist Aecio Neves of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) in the second round run-off.
Both candidates have pledged to kick-start Latin America's largest economy and make it more competitive. Both candidates have tried to convince voters they can lift more Brazilians out of poverty and kick-start Latin America's largest economy.
Voting began at 08:00 (10:00 GMT) and will end at 20:00. Results are expected after 22:00 GMT.
The latest opinion polls showed President Rousseff with a slight lead over the opposition candidate. More than 140 million Brazilians have been voting across three time zones.
A survey by pollster Datafolha gave her 52% voter support against 48% for Mr Neves. Voting ended at 17:00 local time (19:00 GMT) in eight states, including Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and in the federal district of Brasilia. Polls closed in the northeast and central states an hour later.
A separate survey by polling firm Ibope gave the incumbent 53% against 47% for her challenger. The last ballots will be cast in the western state of Acre at 20:00 (22:00 GMT).
Both polls had a margin of error of plus or minus 2%. Battle for middle class
On Saturday, opinion polls gave President Rousseff a slight lead over Mr Neves.
Correspondents say the middle class vote in Brazil's industrial southeast will be crucial.
Ms Rousseff voted early in the southern city of Porto Alegre, where she lived and developed her political career in the 1990s.
Mr Neves cast his ballot in the city of Belo Horizonte, where he served as governor of the southern swing-state of Minas Gerais for eight years.
At the scene: Wyre Davies, BBC News, Rio de JaneiroAt the scene: Wyre Davies, BBC News, Rio de Janeiro
In the sprawling Rio de Janeiro favela of Rocinha, support for the opposition presidential candidate, Aecio Neves, was thin on the ground this morning, but there's still plenty for voters to mull over.In the sprawling Rio de Janeiro favela of Rocinha, support for the opposition presidential candidate, Aecio Neves, was thin on the ground this morning, but there's still plenty for voters to mull over.
This is a working class area where the incumbent, Dilma Rousseff, might be expected to do well, thanks to her government's welfare polices. But, as in the rest of Brazil, the standard of many public services is poor and Mr Neves's track record for good political management will attract many voters.This is a working class area where the incumbent, Dilma Rousseff, might be expected to do well, thanks to her government's welfare polices. But, as in the rest of Brazil, the standard of many public services is poor and Mr Neves's track record for good political management will attract many voters.
Voting here is brisk. Brazil is one of the world's biggest democracies and people seem genuinely engaged with the issues. The result is expected to be tight and there's an awful lot to play for, which is perhaps one reason why the campaign has, at times, seemed bitter and divisive.Voting here is brisk. Brazil is one of the world's biggest democracies and people seem genuinely engaged with the issues. The result is expected to be tight and there's an awful lot to play for, which is perhaps one reason why the campaign has, at times, seemed bitter and divisive.
Last-ditch push in 'Mini-Brazil' stateLast-ditch push in 'Mini-Brazil' state
Battle for middle class Divided electorate
Poor Brazilians, particularly in the impoverished northeast, remain loyal to Dilma Rousseff thanks to her party's trademark welfare programmes, such as the Bolsa Familia family grant scheme. Poor Brazilians, particularly in the impoverished northeast, remain loyal to Ms Rousseff thanks to her party's trademark welfare programmes, such as the Bolsa Familia family grant scheme.
She obtained her largest support there in the first round of the presidential election on 5 October, with almost 60% of votes. She enjoyed strong support there in the first round of the presidential election on 5 October, with almost 60% of votes.
But wealthy Brazilians, who are against interventionist economic policies such as petrol price controls and high taxes, favour instead business-friendly Aecio Neves. But wealthy Brazilians, who are against interventionist economic policies such as petrol price controls and high taxes, favour instead business-friendly Mr Neves.
He is regarded in the financial markets as someone to put the economy back on track, after four years of low growth rates with the country now technically in recession, says BBC Brasil's Julia Carneiro. He is regarded in the financial markets as someone to put the economy back on track, after four years of low growth rates and the country now technically in recession, says BBC Brasil's Julia Carneiro.
Supporters of the government say that despite low growth, unemployment has reached historically low levels and wages have been rising.Supporters of the government say that despite low growth, unemployment has reached historically low levels and wages have been rising.
More than 140 million Brazilians will vote on Sunday, but correspondents say much will depend on who wins the middle-class vote in the industrialised southeast. The vote is widely seen as a referendum on 12 years of government by Ms Rousseff's Workers Party (PT).
Nowhere is the race closer than in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais where the two candidates were both raised, the BBC's Wyre Davies reports.
On Saturday, Mr Neves campaigned in his native state, where he served two terms as governor, and paid a visit to the grave of his grandfather Tancredo, who was elected president in 1985 but died before taking office.
Ms Rousseff, who has been serving as Brazil's first woman president since 2010, spent instead the last day of campaigning in her southern stronghold of Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, where she held a rally.
The vote is widely seen as a referendum on 12 years of government by her Workers Party.
Dramatic race
The PT came to power in 2002 with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as president.The PT came to power in 2002 with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as president.
Its policies are credited with lifting an estimated 40 million Brazilians out of extreme poverty.Its policies are credited with lifting an estimated 40 million Brazilians out of extreme poverty.
But President Rousseff's government has faced allegations of corruption and of overspending in preparations for this year's football World Cup.But President Rousseff's government has faced allegations of corruption and of overspending in preparations for this year's football World Cup.
She also presided over rising inflation and a recession this year. Dramatic race
The election comes after weeks of intensive campaigning by the two candidates and a presidential race that turned dramatic after Eduardo Campos, a main opposition candidate, was killed in a plane crash in August. The election comes after weeks of intensive campaigning by the two candidates and a presidential race that took a tragic turn after Eduardo Campos, a main opposition candidate, was killed in a plane crash in August.
His running mate, a renowned environmentalist, Marina Silva, was thrust into his spot, vowing to become the South American country's first "poor, black" president. His running mate, a renowned environmentalist, Marina Silva, was thrust into his place, vowing to become the South American country's first "poor, black" president.
But she came third in the first round after Ms Rousseff and Mr Neves secured 41.5% and 33.5% of the vote respectively.But she came third in the first round after Ms Rousseff and Mr Neves secured 41.5% and 33.5% of the vote respectively.
As neither candidate got an absolute majority, the election went into a second round.As neither candidate got an absolute majority, the election went into a second round.
Ms Silva has backed Mr Neves in Sunday's runoff vote.Ms Silva has backed Mr Neves in Sunday's runoff vote.
States where candidates did best in first roundStates where candidates did best in first round
Are you in Brazil? Will you be voting? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. If you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist, please include a telephone number.Are you in Brazil? Will you be voting? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. If you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist, please include a telephone number.