Global equality champion Iceland set to elect woman as president for second time
- Katrin Jakobsdottir, who stepped down as prime minister to run for president, is neck-and-neck in polls with equality advocate Halla Tomasdottir
- Iceland has the smallest measured gender gap in the world and a strong history of female empowerment
Polling stations across the north Atlantic island are opening on Saturday to choose a successor to Gudni Th Johannesson, who is stepping down after two terms. The candidate who wins the most votes will become head of state in the single round election, and serve for four years.
Two women are neck-and-neck in polls. Katrin Jakobsdottir, who stepped down as prime minister to run for president, faces competition from Halla Tomasdottir, an equality advocate with private equity background. Halla Hrund Logadottir, director general of the National Energy Authority, has in recent polls fallen to third place.
The ballots opened at 9am local time and close at 10pm, with first results expected soon after polling stations close and a conclusive outcome in the hours that follow.
