Brazil votes on Sunday in the first round of its general election, with 158.7 million people eligible to cast ballots. Polling stations will open from 08:00 to 17:00 Brasilia time.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva leads Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in the final polls, but the gap has narrowed. A CNT/MDA poll published Saturday put Lula at 43.1% and Bolsonaro at 38%, with 47.8% against 42.1% in valid votes. A Reuters poll aggregation had them nearly tied.

Twelve candidates are on the presidential ballot. If no candidate wins more than 50% of valid votes, the top two advance to a runoff on October 25. A likely runoff has Lula at 47.3% against Bolsonaro’s 43.1%.

Voters are also electing governors in 26 states, plus members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Voting is compulsory for most citizens aged 18 to 70.

Why it matters: the winner will inherit unusual power over appointments to the Supreme Court, the central bank and regulators.