Ukraine heads to the polls in a pivotal and unpredictable election

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By Yuliya Talmazan

Ukrainians are casting their votes on Sunday in a presidential election that could shape the country’s future for decades to come, with a comedian who has no political experience the favorite to take the helm of a country ravaged by military conflict and an ailing economy.

With a long list of 39 names on the ballot, the nation will be choosing a leader to steer Ukraine’s economic growth, end an ongoing conflict with Russia-backed separatists in the east and fight rampant corruption.

Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky has been consistently leading opinion polls for months ahead of the election, with President Petro Poroshenko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko trailing far behind.

Polls close at 8 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET) and preliminary results could be in as soon as Monday morning.

Should none of the candidates get more than 50 per cent of the vote, a runoff election between the top two will be held on April 21.

source: nbcnews.com