[EDITORS, POLLS STAY OPEN UNTIL 6 PM LOCAL TIME (16:00 GMT)]
Polls have opened in Germany's federal parliamentary elections, with Angela Merkel and her conservative party expected to stay in control of the government, barring a major upset.
However, the results of the smaller parties could have a big impact on the makeup of the country's next government.
Ira Spitzer has more from Berlin.
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