Seven candidates are vying for nomination as the centre right presidential candidate in next year's election. Ranging from Alain Juppé to Nathalie Kosciusko Morizet via Sarkozy and Fillon the winner will be the candidate who gets either over 50% today, or wins next week's second round.
Over 10000 polling stations are open today and anyone can vote on production of a voting card, sign a declaration of loyalty to "republican values" and pay 2 euros.
Opinion polls have shown Juppé consistently ahead, though only narrowly from Sarkozy and, more recently, Fillon.
Former president Nicholas Sarkozy seems to have become more stridently right wing as he seeks to portray himself as the "anti-establishment" candidate, a mantle generally worn by Marine le Pen, but the more inclusive Fillon has made great strides in recent weeks and if he makes to the second round he is favourite to win.
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