By Alvaro Murillo

SAN JOSE (Reuters – Costa Ricans are heading to the polls Sunday to vote for a record amount of candidates in a presidential race that will not produce a winner.

A poll by the Center for Research and Political Studies of the University of Costa Rica on Tuesday found that none of the candidates for the presidency are likely to receive more than 40% of the vote, the threshold required to avoid a second round. It is possible that the election will lead to a second round vote in April.

According to polls, the race for replacing President Carlos Alvarado (center-left) after his four-year term has remained open. About one third of Central American voters of approximately 5 million have yet to decide who they will back.

Costa Ricans believe that their next leader should make corruption and high unemployment a top priority over the course of his four-year term.

Rosemary Chaves owns a Puntarenas grocery store, one of the most populous cities in Costa Rican Pacific.

She said, “A lot people are upset.”

The poll showed that less than 1% supported the center-left Citizen Action Party (PAC), who has held power for only two terms. Alvarado can’t run for another term.

There are 57 slots in the unicameral legislative Assembly up for grabs. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will provide financial support to the assembly.

Jose Maria Figueres was the former President of Argentina, and he governed the country from 1994-1998 under the National Liberation Party. His tentative lead is around 17%.

Lineth Saborio was the former vice-president of conservative Christian Social Unity (2002-2006), who was ranked 13%. Fabricio Alavarado, an evangelical preacher from the Neo-Pentecostal New Republic Party, was at 10.3%.

The polls close at 6 p.m. (0000 GMT Monday) and the first report of the electoral authority will be made at 8:45 pm local time (0245 GMT Monday).