Costa Ricans have gone to the polls to choose a new president in a race upended by a debate over same-sex marriage, as leading candidates in the crowded field fiercely opposed gay rights that have recently gained ground in Latin America.
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Conservative Christian singer and TV anchor Fabricio Alvarado skyrocketed to the top of the 13-person field after denouncing a January ruling by the region's top human rights court that called on Costa Rica to give equal civil marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples.
His closest rivals are agri-businessman Antonio Alvarez of the opposition National Liberation Party and Carlos Alvarado of the governing Citizens' Action Party.
If no candidate wins at least 40 per cent of Sunday's vote, a run-off election with the top two finishers is set for early April.
