The first election since the military backed takeover four years ago in Madasgascar takes place as voters goes to polls today.

The polls which will be directed by the Independent National Electoral Commission of the Transition, (Cenit) - an independent electoral body funded by the United Nations, features Thirty-three candidates who are contesting the election.

According to reports, Cenit says there are 7,697,382 registered voters and 20,115 polling stations in Madagascar, a country the size of France with a scattered population

CEOAFRICA gathered that stable date has not been set to announce the results but if no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast, a second round will be held on 20 December, along with the parliamentary elections.

The election has been postponed three times this year. In January this year Mr Rajoelina and Mr Ravalomanana both agreed not to stand in the polls, in line with a plan by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc that Madagascar belongs to.

The first round of this election was set to take place in July 2013 but was pushed back to August because Mr Ravalomanana's wife and former first lady, Lalao - and then Mr Rajoelina himself - decided to run, prompting donors to suspend financing for the poll.

Mr Rajoelina and Lalao Ravalomanana were then barred from standing and the electoral court also struck former President Didier Ratsiraka from the list of candidates after the three refused to withdraw.

The African Union had said it would not recognise the results if any of the three were declared the winner.