SANTO DOMINGO. - Voting to elect the Dominican President began in calm at 6 a.m. around the country and five hours earlier in Spain, with some tables getting crowded early.

From before 5 a.m. Electoral officials began installing the polling centers with the delegates from the different political parties present, so the around 5.7 million Dominicans can exert their right to vote in the 17th elections after Rafael Trujillo’s dictatorship.

Seven candidates on the ballots of 22 political parties participate in the contest for the Presidency.

The Central Electoral Board for the first time organized voting centers for Dominicans who live abroad, including Madrid, New York, Providence, Miami and cities in Puerto Rico.

There are  25,922 registered voters in the state of New York, where polls will close at 9 p.m.