Aux Français! Votez aujoud'hui pour la France!

Polls have been open for over six  hours now for the first round of the French presidential election. President Emmanuel Macron, a member of the champagne liberal elite if ever there was one, is facing a strong challenge from National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, running a close second in the latest polls. Jean-Luc Melenchon, tribune of the loony left, is a distant third.

Difficult as this may be for Americans to understand, France operates a manual system for elections. Voters are required to present themselves in person, with photo ID. They place their ballots in envelopes which are then sealed and deposited in plexiglass ballot boxes. Once the polls close, votes will be counted by hand. What a concept!

With populist Viktor Orban winning a fourth consecutive term as Hungary's prime minister days ago, the eyes of the world -- or of Europe, at least -- have now turned to France's resurgent right, especially Mme Le Pen, who wants to ban Muslim headscarves in streets and halal and kosher butchers, and drastically reduce immigration from outside Europe. 

The French election has the potential to reshape the country's tarnished identity and indicate whether European populism is ascendant or in decline. Stay tuned. And if you're a French citizen, get out and vote for France!

UPDATE ADDED at 1320. Summary of BBC reports shows...

* Firm projections suggest Emmanuel Macron will face a run-off against Marine Le Pen in the second round of France's presidential election, to be held on April 24th. 

* M Macron comes first with 28.4% of the vote while Mme Le Pen receives 23.4%, according to national broadcaster France Télévision.

* Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon comes in third place with about 20% of the votes.

* M Macron is addressing supporters in Paris. Mme Le Pen earlier vowed to put France "in order".