Bolivians head to the polls on Sunday as incumbent President Evo Morales — the country’s first indigenous president of the majority indigenous nation — is seeking a third consecutive term. He must win by more than 50 percent (a 10 percent margin) to avoid a run-off in December, but he’s widely expected to win.

CCTV America’s Dan Collyns reports from La Paz.

President Evo Morales placed his vote in his home town of Cochabamba. Being confident of his victory, he predicted that he’ll win 74 percent of the vote and a majority in every one of Bolivia’s nine regions. “Just like any other citizen, brothers and sisters, who is participating in this election, I am complying with my electoral duties. I am very happy and I confirm that Bolivia is a country and a democratic nation, and for this reason your participation is important to the whole national territory.” he said.

Polls show the former coca farmer and Bolivia’s first indigenous president has a 40 percent lead over the opposition.

His nearest rival, a millionaire businessman Samuel Doria Medina, cast his ballot in La Paz. Him said that state-run media coverage had been biased against the opposition. “I may have some disadvantage in the use of the public television and the public media, but I have an advantage with the people. The people know that this government is unfair in this election and that’s a plus for us.” he said.

More than six million Bolivians are eligible to vote and turnout is high. In a country which has seen dramatic improvements in prosperity and well-being, most are voting for continuity rather than change.

The number of Bolivians living in extreme poverty has fallen to one in five from more than a third of the population when Morales took office in 2006. Completing another five-year term would make Morales the longest-serving president in Bolivia’s history. Experts predict that the Morales will also win a legislative majority which could allow him to change the constitution and run for president again.