Bolivians cast ballots on Sunday in the country’s most consequential vote in two decades, choosing a president, vice-president and the 166-member legislature against the backdrop of a steep economic slump. About 7.9 million citizens were registered to vote, and the Tribunal Supremo Electoral said polling stations closed at 8 p.m. local time with turnout strong and only isolated disturbances. Preliminary results are expected late Sunday, and a second round will be held on 19 October if no candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote, or 40 percent with a 10-point lead. The ballot could end nearly 20 years of rule by the left-wing Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS). Pro-market contenders Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, a former president, and cement magnate Samuel Doria Medina led pre-election surveys, while MAS’s Eduardo del Castillo and break-away socialist senator Andrónico Rodríguez trailed amid divisions in the ruling movement. President Luis Arce opted not to seek a second term, and former leader Evo Morales, barred from running, urged supporters to spoil their ballots, potentially swelling the null vote. Voters cited spiralling living costs and shortages as key concerns. Annual inflation is running close to 25 percent, the sharpest rise in more than 30 years, and international reserves have fallen below US$2 billion from a 2014 peak of US$15 billion. Leading opposition candidates have promised fiscal austerity, talks with the IMF and incentives for foreign investment in gas and lithium, signalling a possible realignment toward Washington after years of closer ties with Caracas, Moscow and Beijing. Election day was largely calm, but authorities said a small explosive device detonated outside a polling station in Entre Ríos shortly before Rodríguez was due to vote. The candidate was later pelted with stones as he left the site; police detained a suspect and reinforced security. The European Union’s observer mission nonetheless described the overall process as orderly. The new administration is scheduled to be sworn in on 8 November.