French Voters Get Day of Rest After Roller-Coaster Campaign
- Candidates end first-round campaigns, polling prohibited
- Any of four candidates could reach two-person May 7 runoff
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After a tumultuous campaign that included at least three front-runners at different times as well as scandal, cyber war and terrorism, French voters get one day of respite Saturday before casting their ballots in the first round of voting for president.
Campaigning and poll publication was halted by law at midnight Friday and voting begins in mainland France Sunday at 8 a.m local time. The pause is enforced in order to give voters time to reflect on their choice. Results will be released starting at 8 p.m. Sunday and the top two finishers of the 11 candidates will go into a runoff that will be decided on May 7.