A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Cotonou, Benin, on April 12, 2026. Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Benin for an election to choose the country's next president. (Photo: Xinhua)
COTONOU, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday across Benin for the first round of the presidential election, in which voters are choosing a successor to President Patrice Talon, whose term will expire on May 23.
Electoral staff began setting up materials as early as 6:00 a.m. in Cotonou, the country's economic capital, as well as in nearby localities, including Godomey, Abomey-Calavi and Akassato. Officials from the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) said the timely deployment of voting materials ensured that polling stations opened as scheduled.
"We already had the electoral materials on site, and this morning we received the ballots as well as the ballot boxes. This enabled us to open the polling stations on time," Firmin Assogba, head of the Cadjehoun polling station in Cotonou, told Xinhua.
At the same polling station, Nicolas Tossa, a retired nurse, was the first to cast the ballot. "I am very happy to fulfill my civic duty by voting for the candidate of my choice, and also for the renewal of my country's leadership," he said.
According to the electoral code, the country's president and vice president are elected by direct universal suffrage for a seven-year term. Two pairs of candidates are contesting the election: Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni and his running mate Mariam Chabi Talata of the ruling coalition, and Paul Hounkpe and Rock Hounwanou of the opposition party Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin.
If no candidate secures an absolute majority in the first round, a runoff will be held on May 10.
Across polling stations visited by Xinhua in Cotonou and surrounding areas, voting operations were reported to be proceeding smoothly and peacefully.
"According to information from polling stations across the country, voting operations effectively started on time," said Armand Bognon, a member of a civil society platform that deployed 1,721 observers nationwide, including 1,200 at fixed posts and 521 mobile ones.
Despite the orderly conduct, voter turnout remained relatively low in the morning and around midday, with citizens arriving gradually to cast their ballots. In many polling stations, attendance was described as moderate, with some voters choosing to attend Sunday religious services before heading to vote.
"We are three hours away from closing our polling station at 4:00 p.m. But to our great surprise, we have not yet seen the expected turnout. Voters are arriving in dribs and drabs to fulfill their civic duty, even though church services had already ended before midday," a polling station staff member in Zoundja, a district of Abomey-Calavi, told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Talon cast his ballot shortly after 10:00 a.m. local time at a polling station in Cotonou. Speaking to journalists, the outgoing president expressed his satisfaction with the peaceful and friendly atmosphere surrounding the election.
"Since last November and December, we have witnessed an electoral process aimed at renewing the country's political leadership at legislative, municipal and presidential levels. What I have observed is not only an extraordinary atmosphere, but also one marked by fraternity and conviviality," he said.
"This gives us confidence that Benin is evolving and reaching a new stage in its history," Talon said. "Whoever wins this election will take the country even further. For me, the best is yet to come."
According to the CENA, about 7.9 million registered voters are expected to cast ballots at 17,562 polling stations nationwide, with provisional results expected within 48 hours of the end of voting. ■
This photo taken on April 12, 2026 shows a street view during the presidential election in Cotonou, Benin.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Benin for an election to choose the country's next president. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
Staff members work at a polling station in Ouidah, Benin, on April 12, 2026.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Benin for an election to choose the country's next president. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
Staff members work at a polling station in Ouidah, Benin, on April 12, 2026.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Benin for an election to choose the country's next president. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Cotonou, Benin, on April 12, 2026.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Benin for an election to choose the country's next president. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
Romuald Wadagni, finance minister and candidate of the ruling coalition, casts his ballot at a polling station in Lokossa, Benin, on April 12, 2026.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Benin for an election to choose the country's next president. (Xinhua)