Nearly 30 percent of French Polynesia's voters have cast their ballot papers by midday in today's polls for a new and enlarged assembly.
The French high commission in Papeete says the figure is higher than in the last election three years ago.
Today's snap election is being held under a new electoral system, which will give the largest party a bonus of a third of all seats.
The ruling Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party is favoured to win a crushing majority.
The opposition parties run on separate lists.
