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Recent opinion polls show Trzaskowski with around 30% support and Nawrocki in the mid-20s. A second round between the two is widely expected to take place on June 1.

The election is also a test of the strength of other forces, including the far right.

S艂awomir Mentzen, a hard-right candidate who blends populist MAGA-style rhetoric with libertarian economics and a critical stance toward the European Union, has been polling in third place.

Ten other candidates are also on the ballot. With such a crowded field and a requirement that a candidate receive more than 50% of the vote to win outright, a second round seemed all but inevitable.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0500GMT) and close at 9 p.m. (1900GMT). Exit polls will be released when voting ends, with results expected by Tuesday, possibly Monday.

Polish authorities have reported attempts at foreign interference during the campaign, including targeting parties in Tusk鈥檚 coalition on Friday and allegations by a state research institute that political ads on Facebook were funded from abroad.

Although Poland鈥檚 prime minister and parliament hold primary authority over domestic policy, the presidency carries substantial power. The president serves as commander of the armed forces, plays a role in foreign and security policy, and can veto legislation.

The conservative outgoing president, Andrzej Duda, has repeatedly used that power over more than the past year to hamper Tusk鈥檚 agenda, for example blocking ambassadorial nominations and using his veto power to resist reversing disputed judicial and media changes made during Law and Justice鈥檚 time in power from 2015 to late 2023.

A Trzaskowski victory could be expected to end such a standoff. He has pledged to support reforms to the courts and public media, both of which critics say were politicized under Law and Justice. Tusk’s opponents say he has also politicized public media.

Monika Laskowska-Dzierbicka, a 36-year-old clinical psychology, voted in Warsaw for Trzaskowski. She said she feels 鈥渉e would be able to resolve disputes, that he would not divide Poles.”

“Rafa艂 Trzaskowski is a competent person, he knows languages, so he will try to get along with everyone,” she said.

Nawrocki, who leads a state historical institute, has positioned himself as a defender of conservative values and national sovereignty.

At the same Warsaw polling station, 88-year-old Jerzy Iwi艅ski said Mentzen has a 鈥渟ensible program鈥� but that he didn’t want to 鈥渨aste鈥� his vote on him, so he cast his ballot for Nawrocki. He said he views Nawrocki as a greater patriot than Trzaskowski.

Another Nawrocki supporter, Irena Kuczy艅ska, 79, shared her view: 鈥淔rom the old days of my family, God, Honor and Fatherland are the most important. And that鈥檚 why I鈥檓 with Mr. Nawrocki.”