Leftist Alberto Fernández has beaten Macri, reports Argentine TV channels citing polling polls. One channel states that he won by a large enough margin to avoid a second decisive round of elections. His alliance Frente de Todos is also said to have made strong progress in the parliamentary elections. Preliminary results are expected within a few hours, according to Reuters.

Fernandez has been a clear favorite. Already in connection with the primary elections in August, his alliance received almost 50 percent of the vote and several measurements have hinted that support has grown since then.

This despite the fact that he has elected former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner as a pair horse and vice presidential candidate. Kirchner was president until 2015, but since then her reputation has been weakened by allegations of bribery, corruption and money laundering.

Increased poverty

Alberto Fernández promised to try one country when he voted in Buenos Aires.

- The days of "we" and "they" are over. "We are in a tremendous economic crisis, everyone has to take responsibility for what lies ahead," he said.

The country's economy was expected to be decisive in the elections and in that area, incumbent President Mauricio Macri has a solid uphill.

During his time in power, poverty in the country has continued to increase - today, every third Argentine is counted as poor. The country is in the worst economic crisis of 20 years. Inflation now corresponds to 38 percent and the person's value has more than halved since January last year.

The prospect of protectionist Peronists returning to power has accelerated the fall of the peso over the past week. But Fernández has assured that his government will fulfill its commitments on the $ 57 billion loan negotiated by the market liberal Macri with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year.

Hope for great turnout

Before Election Day, Macri had asked voters to be patient and urged their followers to go to the polls. Increased turnout has been seen by analysts as his greatest chance to tap into Fernández and force a second crucial round of elections.

- It's more participation than before. We have had a record number of votes, which is very positive, he told reporters when he cast his vote.

In addition to a new president, voters have voted for new mayor and governor of Buenos Aires. In addition, half of the seats in the lower house and a third of the seats in the Senate were at stake.