Today's vote

Polls close at noon CST today in a presidential election that will produce a successor to Vladimir Putin and almost certainly open a path for Putin to take a new and powerful role. Early results are expected shortly after polls close; a complete official count may not be available until Monday.

Voters face a slate of four candidates, but First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev -- who has been endorsed by the Putin -- is expected to win with an overwhelming victory. The three other candidates are widely considered Kremlin-designed window-dressing to give the vote the appearance of competition and fairness.

Putin, who is overwhelmingly popular after two consecutive terms in office, has indicated he will accept Medvedev's proposal to become prime minister after the election. That has raised questions about where the true center of power will be -- in Medvedev's presidency or Putin's premiership. Medvedev has openly espoused support for Putin's domestic and foreign policies, although his recent speeches have given the impression of someone less harsh and more liberal-minded than Putin. The new president will face the task of continuing reforms to the creaky, Soviet-era systems of education, health care and agriculture, among other things.