Van der Bellen hopeful after voting in Austria

Austria's liberal president hopes to be reelected on Sunday without the need for a runoff vote after a campaign in which he has cast himself as the stable option in uncertain times. President Alexander Van der Bellen, 78, is seeking a second term after serving six years in which a succession of domestic political crises gave the head of state unusually high visibility in a role that is often largely ceremonial.

Nearly 6.4 million people in the Alpine country are eligible to vote in Sunday's election. Polls have shown a big lead for Van der Bellen, who has the implicit or explicit backing of Austria's mainstream parties. The main question is whether he will win outright in the first round or whether a runoff will be necessary against the second-placed candidate on November 6.