Georgians went to the polls on Sunday to elect a successor to outgoing President Mikheil Saakashvili. Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) and will close at 8 p.m. (1600 GMT). Some 3.5 million eligible voters will cast their votes, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). Opinion polls gave Giorgi Margvelashvili, candidate of the ruling Dream -Democratic Georgia coalition, a comfortable lead in the presidential race. The CEC said 55 international and 57 local institutions will monitor the election. This year\'s presidential election will be the sixth since Georgia\'s independence in 1991.