Bolivians vote in a presidential runoff on Sunday that marks a decisive rejection of the socialist government and a likely foreign policy shift closer to the United States after decades of frosty relations. Voting stations opened at 8 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and close at 4 p.m., with initial results expected after 9 p.m. The winner will take office on November 8.

The race pits centrist Senator Rodrigo Paz against conservative former president Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga. Both candidates have pledged to strengthen diplomatic ties with Washington — strained since 2009 — and seek U.S.-backed financial support to stabilize Bolivia's fragile economy. The runoff between two pro-market candidates from privileged backgrounds signals an epochal shift for Bolivia, following two decades of dominance by

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