(22 Apr 2012) QUALITY AS INCOMING
1. Various of Dominique Strauss-Kahn arriving at a polling station in Sarcelles in the northern suburbs of Paris
2. Various of Strauss-Kahn lining up to collect the his ballot before voting
3. Strauss-Khan leaving the polling station pursued by media
STORYLINE:
Dominique Strauss-Kahn voted on Sunday in the first round of the French presidential election at a polling station in Sarcelles, his stronghold in the northern suburb of Paris where he once served as a mayor.
The former head of the International Monetary Fund was welcomed by town officials at a school where he is registered to vote.
Strauss-Kahn was once a potential French presidential candidate but was charged last year with sexual assault and attempted rape in the United States.
Although the charges were later dismissed, the case damaged his reputation and put an end to any hopes of running in this election.
The French Interior Ministry said more than one in four voters in the first round of the presidential election had cast their ballots before midday (1000 GMT), a solid turnout compared to the most recent contests.
After a provisional noon count, the ministry said over 28 per cent of France''s more than 44-million (m) registered voters had cast ballots.
It was less than the 31 per cent at the same time in the 2007 first round vote, but more than in the four previous races.
The voting will separate a list of 10 candidates from across the political spectrum to two finalists for the decisive runoff on May 6, which will set a course for the next five years.
Polls for months have showed that the President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been relatively unpopular for months, if not years, and Francois Hollande, a Socialist, are likely to make the cut.
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