LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivians began voting Sunday in a dead-heat presidential runoff that pits two conservative, market-friendly candidates against each other for the first time in almost two decades of left-wing rule.

Top of mind is a flailing economy that has left the country reeling from a dire shortage of U.S. dollars and fuel.

Disenchanted with the Movement Toward Socialism, or MAS party, that has run Bolivia for the last 20 years, Bolivians in the first round of voting on Aug. 17 propelled centrist Sen. Rodrigo Paz and right-wing former President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga to the runoff.

The polls will remain open until 4 p.m. across the country. Voting is compulsory in the country and nearly 8 million Bolivians are eligible to cast ballots.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earl

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