Tunisians are voting Sunday for their first directly elected president since the 2011 revolution that led to the Arab Spring pro-democracy uprisings in other regional countries.

Sunday’s vote marks the long-awaited completion of a transition to democracy after Tunisians sparked protests across the region by overthrowing dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali three years ago.

Among the more than two dozen candidates, 87-year-old Beji Caid Essebsi, a political veteran, has emerged as the front-runner, followed by current President Moncef Marzouki.

A runoff will be held in December if no one secures an absolute majority.

More than three years after the end of Ben Ali’s one-party rule, Tunisia has become a model of transition for the region by adopting a new constitution and avoiding much of the turmoil facing its neighbors.

Material for this report came from AP, AFP, and Reuters.
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