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Hearts and heads go into selecting a president today.

The weekend saw both oppositionist Levon Ter-Petrosyan and ruling party leader Serge Sargsyan draw impressive crowds that marched from Liberty Square to Republic Square turning major thoroughfares into parade grounds. Though party estimates dramatically inflated turnout, a rough calculation by ArmeniaNow using a grid method of counting estimated the crowds at about 40,000 each.

Additionally on Sunday, the Sargsyan camp set up towers of loud speakers at major intersections in central Yerevan, broadcasting patriotic music throughout the afternoon.

About 2.3 million Armenians are eligible to vote today. (The number includes an estimated 500,000 who may or may not be in country – only those physically present will be eligible to vote.)

As the stations opened at 8.00 this morning, the question weighing on this election is whether the day’s results will force a second round. According to law, a candidate must achieve 50 percent plus one vote in order to be declared winner.

Ahead of the campaign (that officially began January 21), common speculation was not whether Sargsyan would win, but by what margin. But as oppositionists, though not united by a single candidate, showed strength in numbers, many now believe that if the election is conducted fairly, there will surely be a runoff – most likely pitting the former president against the current Prime Minister.

Impressed by the streets full of Ter-Petrosyan supporters Saturday, one woman observed: “If there isn’t a run-off, there will be revolution”.

The answer should be known perhaps as early as 6 p.m. Wednesday, as the Central Election Commission (www.elections.am) is obliged to issue a preliminary report within 22 hours after poling stations close.

Voter turnout may be critical, especially to oppositionists hopes. The last three days have brought near-spring-like weather to Armenia, raising hopes of high participation.

The highest voter turnout observed in Armenian presidential elections was its first post-independence election in 1991, when about 70 percent voted. Reported turnout figures in all elections have been steadily declining since then, fluctuating between 50 and 65 percent. The voter turnout figure for the last presidential election in 2003 was reported at 61.2 percent and for the latest parliamentary elections last May at close to 60 percent.

Six international and 39 local organizations are registered as observers for the vote and are expected to deploy close to 15,000 observers countrywide, including more than 600 international observers.

Among the largest international missions is the OSCE/ODIHR to be represented by 316 observers, including 260 short-term observers, on Election Day. According to Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission, among international observer missions are also those of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and its Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament.