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TBILISI, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Georgia kicked off its fifth presidential election on Sunday to pick the state head for the next six years.

More than 3.51 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at 3,703 polling stations across the country and 55 polling stations overseas from 8:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) to 8:00 p.m. (1600 GMT), said the country's Central Election Commission (CEC).

Among all 25 candidates, 19 were nominated by political parties and six are independent candidates, the CEC said.

Independent candidate Salome Zurabishvili is running with the highest popularity ratings among the front-runners, while her main opponent, Grigol Vashadze, is backed by the biggest opposition United National Movement party.

More than 22,000 domestic observers and over 1,100 international observers from 58 international organizations will oversee the election, said the CEC.

The final result of the voting will be officially announced the following day.

According to the constitution amendments, the 2018 election will become Georgia's last direct presidential election, in which the electorate will directly elect a president.

The next presidential election in 2024 will see the new president selected by a electoral board composed of 300 members from the parliament and the representatives of local governments.