France goes to the polls in presidential election – in pictures

A ballot is cast in Strasbourg Photograph: Vincent Kessler/Reuters

A dog waits as its owner stands in a polling booth in Nice Photograph: Eric Gaillard/Reuters

A monk from Mont des Cats abbey votes in Godewaersvelde Photograph: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images

A woman passes campaign posters in La Possession, in the French Indian ocean island of La Reunion Photograph: Richard Bouhet/AFP/Getty Images

A woman takes her ballots before casting her vote in Mont Saint-Michel Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images

Election volunteers wait for voters in Strasbourg Photograph: Vincent Kessler/Reuters

Electoral workers wait for voters in a polling station in Noumea, New Caledonia Photograph: Reuters

François Hollande, the Socialist party candidate, casts his ballot in Tulle Photograph: Jacky Naegelen/Reuters

Martine Aubry, of the Socialist party, casts her vote in Lille Photograph: Michel Spingler/AP

Marine Le Pen, candidate for the far-right National Front, votes in Henin-Beaumont Photograph: Pascal Rossignol/Reuters

Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, arrive to cast their vote in Paris
Photograph: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images

Nicolas Sarkozy signs autographs as he leaves a polling station in Paris Photograph: Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters

François Hollande leaves the polling office after casting his vote in Tulle Photograph: Getty Images/Getty Images

François Bayrou, the Democratic Movement candidate leaves a polling booth in Pau Photograph: Ascension Torrent/AP

Votes are counted at a polling station in Papeete, in the French Polynesia island of Tahiti Photograph: Gregory Boissy/AFP/Getty Images

Vu Thi Tam, a French woman of Vietnamese descent, casts her vote. About 1,400 registered French voters are expected to cast their votes at the French embassy in Vietnam, a former French colony Photograph: Reuters