Laura Fernandez of the ruling Sovereign People's Party prepares to cast her vote at a polling station in Cartago, Costa Rica, Feb. 1, 2026. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

SAN JOSE, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Costa Ricans head to the polls on Sunday in presidential elections, as more than 7,000 polling stations opened nationwide.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). About 3.7 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots, including over 67,000 Costa Ricans registered to vote abroad.

Voters are choosing from 20 presidential candidates. Laura Fernandez of the ruling Sovereign People's Party has led the race throughout the campaign, with the latest University of Costa Rica survey putting her at 44 percent support. She is followed by Alvaro Ramos of the National Liberation Party at 9 percent and former first lady Claudia Dobles of the Citizen Agenda Coalition at 8 percent.

A candidate needs at least 40 percent of valid votes to win outright. If no one reaches that threshold, the top two finishers will face a runoff in April.

Voters will also elect two vice presidents and nearly 60 lawmakers. ■

Laura Fernandez of the ruling Sovereign People's Party prepares to cast her vote at a polling station in Cartago, Costa Rica, Feb. 1, 2026. Costa Ricans head to the polls on Sunday in presidential elections, as more than 7,000 polling stations opened nationwide.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). About 3.7 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots, including over 67,000 Costa Ricans registered to vote abroad. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

Laura Fernandez of the ruling Sovereign People's Party casts her vote at a polling station in Cartago, Costa Rica, Feb. 1, 2026. Costa Ricans head to the polls on Sunday in presidential elections, as more than 7,000 polling stations opened nationwide.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). About 3.7 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots, including over 67,000 Costa Ricans registered to vote abroad. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

A man casts his ballot at a polling station in Cartago, Costa Rica, Feb. 1, 2026. Costa Ricans head to the polls on Sunday in presidential elections, as more than 7,000 polling stations opened nationwide.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). About 3.7 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots, including over 67,000 Costa Ricans registered to vote abroad. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

Laura Fernandez of the ruling Sovereign People's Party prepares to cast her vote at a polling station in Cartago, Costa Rica, Feb. 1, 2026. Costa Ricans head to the polls on Sunday in presidential elections, as more than 7,000 polling stations opened nationwide.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). About 3.7 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots, including over 67,000 Costa Ricans registered to vote abroad. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

An election staff sets up a ballot box at a polling station in Cartago, Costa Rica, Feb. 1, 2026. Costa Ricans head to the polls on Sunday in presidential elections, as more than 7,000 polling stations opened nationwide.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). About 3.7 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots, including over 67,000 Costa Ricans registered to vote abroad. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

Laura Fernandez of the ruling Sovereign People's Party gestures to journalists before casting her ballot at a polling station in Cartago, Costa Rica, Feb. 1, 2026. Costa Ricans head to the polls on Sunday in presidential elections, as more than 7,000 polling stations opened nationwide.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). About 3.7 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots, including over 67,000 Costa Ricans registered to vote abroad. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Cartago, Costa Rica, Feb. 1, 2026.

Costa Ricans headed to the polls on Sunday in presidential elections, as more than 7,000 polling stations opened nationwide.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). About 3.7 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots, including over 67,000 Costa Ricans registered to vote abroad. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Cartago, Costa Rica, Feb. 1, 2026.

Costa Ricans headed to the polls on Sunday in presidential elections, as more than 7,000 polling stations opened nationwide.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). About 3.7 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots, including over 67,000 Costa Ricans registered to vote abroad. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)

A voter prepares to cast his ballot at a polling station in San Jose, Costa Rica, Feb. 1, 2026.

Costa Ricans headed to the polls on Sunday in presidential elections, as more than 7,000 polling stations opened nationwide.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT). About 3.7 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots, including over 67,000 Costa Ricans registered to vote abroad. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua)