Live Blogging Algerian elections today

Algerians head to the polls today to cast votes in the country's presidential election. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is widely expected to win, faces five challengers, four of whom have previously run against him.

They are former prime minister, Ali Benflis; Louisa Hanoune, a member of parliament; Moussa Touati, a former soldier and founder of the Algerian National front; and Ali Fawzi Rebaine, who co-founded the country's first human rights group. A fourth candidate, Abdelaziz Belaid, head of the El-Moustakbel Front and also the youngest of the group, is running for the first time.

If elected, this would be Bouteflika's fourth term since taking the helm in 1999. For the past year, he has been in poor health after suffering a mini-stroke and spending three months in a French hospital. Much has been written of his age and the possibility that he may die in office, even if elected. MEE columnist Jeremy Keenan, a longtime observer of Algerian politics, however has been highlighting the more immediate possibility that Benflis may get more votes than Bouteflika. We will be following those developments here and in the days to come.
The elections have brought rare protests to the streets, including those led by a recently found group called Barakat (meaning Enough in Arabic) and an election boycott by several parties. What are Barakat and boycotting parties calling for? And what do Algerians who aren't protesting have to say? Stay tuned here for field reports, photos and interviews with observers throughout the day.