SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Costa Ricans went to the polls on Sunday 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.

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.

If no candidate wins at least 40 percent of Sunday’s vote, a run-off election with the top two finishers is set for early April. Initial results are expected by 8 p.m. local time (2100 ET/0200 GMT Monday).

Hundreds of Costa Ricans, many waving party flags of red, yellow, green, white and blue, set up stalls in front of polling stations early on Sunday, hoping to win over any remaining undecided voters.

The 43-year-old Alvarado, a congressman with the National Restoration Party, has called last month’s ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights a violation of Costa Rica’s sovereignty and an affront to traditional values.

“We have to stand up to those who want to trample on the family,” he said during the final debate of the campaign, and he threatened to pull out of the court as a result.

Rival Antonio Alvarez, a banana entrepreneur and candidate of the National Liberation Party, has said that while he personally opposes the court’s decision, he would respect it if he wins.

Among the few candidates who embraced the court’s resolution is Carlos Alvarado, a former labor minister in the outgoing government of President Luis Gillermao Solis.

Elsewhere in the region, gay and lesbian couples can marry in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and in parts of Mexico.

“The next president has to get into the difficult issues in the country and not be in fights over religion,” said Ronald Pina, a 45-year-old government worker in the upper middle class Escazu neighborhood of San Jose.

“I vote for someone to govern, not to pray.”

Running a close second in one recent opinion poll, conservative Juan Diego Castro, a former justice minister, is aiming to lure voters with an anti-crime platform as well as pushing for less restrictions on miners and oil companies.

A high-end coffee exporter, Costa Rica is well-known for its environmental stewardship and thriving eco-tourism sector.

The candidates, dressed in their party colors, went to vote early on Sunday, with some attending religious services afterward.

Solis, a former diplomat and history professor, won in a landslide four years ago but has seen his popularity slide as an investigation into an influence peddling scandal has unfolded.

He is barred by law from seeking a second term.

Solis gained international attention when he hoisted a rainbow flag along with the Costa Rican flag atop his office just a week after he took office as a statement against homophobia.

Costa Rica’s 3.3 million voters are predominantly Roman Catholic and most describe themselves as conservative. </s> SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — The latest on Costa Rica's presidential runoff election (all times local):

Electoral officials in Costa Rica say the governing party's candidate has won a presidential runoff election in which same-sex marriage was a big issue.

Carlos Alvarado of the ruling Citizen Action Party has 60.6 percent of the votes, with just over 90 percent of ballots counted Sunday night.

Fabricio Alvarado of the National Restoration party has 39.4 percent of the votes. The two men are not related.

Fabricio Alvarado had led the initial election round in early February after coming out strongly against a call by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for Costa Rica to allow same-sex marriage.

The new president spoke strongly for permitting gays to wed. </s> SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Costa Ricans voted for a new president on Sunday in a race upended by debate over same-sex marriage, with leading candidates in the crowded field fiercely opposing gay rights and challenging the country’s traditionally centrist politics.

Polls closed on Sunday evening, with initial results expected by 8 p.m. local time (2100 ET/0200 GMT Monday). If no candidate wins at least 40 percent of the vote, a run-off election with the top two finishers is set for early April.

Conservative Christian singer and TV anchor Fabricio Alvarado skyrocketed to the top of the 13-person field in opinion polls in the run-up to the vote, 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.

A shift in support towards issue-based politics and relative outsiders has been a shock for some in Costa Rica, which has long offered a moderate two-party system and more stability than other countries in politically volatile Central America.

“I voted even though I wasn’t convinced. I decided to because they said anyone could get to the second round,” Amador Torres, a 65-year old former judiciary worker, said.

The voting was peaceful, with hundreds of Costa Ricans, many waving party flags of red, yellow, green, white and blue, manning stalls in front of polling stations.

The 43-year-old Alvarado, the lone elected lawmaker for the evangelical National Restoration Party, has called last month’s ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights a violation of Costa Rica’s sovereignty and an affront to traditional values.

“We have to stand up to those who want to trample on the family,” he said during the final debate of the campaign. He threatened to pull Costa Rica out of the court, which is based in the country’s capital, San Jose.

Running a close second to Alvarado in one recent opinion poll, conservative Juan Diego Castro, a former justice minister, is aiming to lure voters with an anti-crime platform, as well as pushing for less restrictions on miners and oil companies.

Rival Antonio Alvarez, a banana entrepreneur and candidate for the National Liberation Party, has said that while he personally opposes the court’s decision, he would respect it if he wins.

Among the few candidates who embraced the court’s resolution is Carlos Alvarado, a former labor minister in the outgoing government of President Luis Guillermo Solis.

“I’ve been surprised by the growth of minority parties,” said voter Olman Gomez, 49, a computer network engineer. “It feels like you’re living in another country in terms of politics.”

The candidates, dressed in their party colors, voted early on Sunday, with some attending religious services afterward.

Solis, a former diplomat and history professor, won in a landslide four years ago but has seen his popularity fall as an investigation into an influence peddling scandal has unfolded.

He is barred by law from seeking a second consecutive term.

Solis gained international attention when he hoisted a rainbow flag along with the Costa Rican flag atop his office just a week after he was sworn in, as a statement against homophobia.

Parts of Latin America have been moving towards more rights for same-sex couples, with gay and lesbian couples marrying in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and in parts of Mexico.

Costa Rica’s 3.3 million voters are predominantly Roman Catholic and most describe themselves as conservative.

“The next president has to get into the difficult issues in the country and not be in fights over religion,” said Ronald Pina, a 45-year-old government worker in the upper middle class Escazu neighborhood of San Jose.

“I vote for someone to govern, not to pray.” </s> Costa Rica Votes For A New President, With Same-Sex Marriage Rights At The Forefront

Costa Ricans are heading to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president. The race is largely upended by a debate over gay rights as many candidates in the crowded field strongly oppose same-sex marriage, which many Latin American countries have recently instated.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights called for equal sex civil marriage rights, early in 2018. IACHR decisions are binding for Costa Rica, as signatory countries are required to allow it.

All of the race's candidates announced their support or willingness to respect the IACHR ruling, with the exception of evangelist and contemporary Christian singer Fabricio Alvarado of the National Restoration Party.

He jumped to first place in the polls at around 17 percent, up from 3 to 5 percent before his expressing his stance, according to a poll published Jan. 31 by the University of Costa Rica's Center for Research and Political Studies. No other candidates have condemned the ruling.

Following Alvarado are three candidates who were top in the polls until the ruling. Trailing behind Alvarado is Antonio Álvarez Desanti, a banana businessman and candidate of the National Liberation Party, which has won the presidency in nine out of the 16 elections. Juan Diego Castro of the National Integration Party and Rodolfo Piza Rocafort of the Social Christian Unity Party are also contenders. There are 13 candidates altogether.

The Pew Research Center found that 29 percent of Costa Ricans support same-sex marriage, and 61 percent are opposed. The country's 3.3 million voters are predominantly Roman Catholic.

If no candidate tops 40 percent in the vote, the first two finishers advance to a runoff scheduled for April 1 — which happens to be Easter Sunday.

"Poll respondents are more fickle than ever, going from undecided to decided and back," said Felipe Alpízar, director of the University of Costa Rica's Center for Research and Political Studies.

Costa Rica's current president, Luis Guillermo Solís, won the presidency in a landslide four years ago, and is barred by law from running for a second term after an influence peddling scandal.

Polls will close Sunday at 9 p.m. E.T. </s> related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.

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Costa Ricans vote for a new president on Sunday in a race upended in the final weeks by a debate over same-sex marriage, as leading candidates in the crowded field fiercely opposed gay rights that have recently been expanding in Latin America.

SAN JOSE: Costa Ricans vote for a new president on Sunday in a race upended in the final weeks by a debate over same-sex marriage, as leading candidates in the crowded field fiercely opposed gay rights that have recently been expanding in Latin America.

Conservative Christian singer and TV personality Fabricio Alvarado skyrocketed to the top of the 13-person field after speaking out against a January ruling by the region's top human rights court calling on Costa Rica to give equal civil marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples.

If no candidate wins at least 40 percent of Sunday's vote, a run-off election with the top two finishers is set for early April.

The 43-year-old Alvarado, a congressman with the National Restoration Party, has called the ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights a violation of the country's sovereignty and an affront to traditional values.

"We have to stand up to those who want to trample on the family," he said at the campaign's final debate, threatening to pull out of the court over its resolution.

Rival Antonio Alvarez, a banana entrepreneur and candidate of the National Liberation Party, has said while he personally opposes the court's decision, he would respect it if he wins.

Among the few candidates who embraced the court's resolution is Carlos Alvarado, a former labour minister in the outgoing government of President Luis Gillermao Solis.

Elsewhere in the region, gay and lesbian couples can marry in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and in parts of Mexico.

Running a close second in one recent poll, conservative Juan Diego Castor, a former justice minister, is aiming to lure voters with an anti-crime platform as well as pushing for less restrictions on miners and oil companies.

A high-end coffee exporter, Costa Rica is well-known for its environmental stewardship and thriving eco-tourism sector.

Solis, a former diplomat and history professor, won in a landslide four years ago but has seen his popularity slide as an investigation into an influence peddling scandal has unfolded.

He is barred by law from seeking a second term.

Solis gained international attention when he hoisted a rainbow flag along with the Costa Rican flag atop his office just a week after he took office as a statement against homophobia.

Costa Rica's 3.3 million voters are predominantly Roman Catholic and most describe themselves as conservative. </s> Costa Ricans have voted in a presidential race shaken by an international court ruling saying the country should let same-sex couples get married.

Costa Ricans have voted in a presidential race shaken by an international court ruling saying the country should let same-sex couples get married.

Evangelical candidate Fabricio Alvarado recently vaulted into first place in opinion polls after he took a strong stance against gay marriage, which about two-thirds of Costa Ricans also oppose.

His closest rivals were agri-businessman Antonio Alvarez of the opposition National Liberation Party and Carlos Alvarado of the governing Citizens’ Action Party. But the outlook was cloudy because none of the 13 candidates polled at more than 17% and surveys indicated that more than a third of likely voters were undecided.

If no candidate reaches 40% of the total vote, the top two finishers advance to an April 1 run-off. Presidential candidate Antonio Alvarez Desanti talks with journalists after voting, outside a polling station in San Jose (Arnulfo Franco/AP) “I see this as very divided,” said Paula Rodriguez, a psychologist who cast her vote in Moravia, on the north-eastern outskirts of the capital San Jose.

“I really think nobody knows what will happen.” The January decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights came to play a central role in the campaign.

The court also ordered the country to grant same-sex couples such rights as the ability to inherit estates and adopt children. Political analyst Francisco Barahona told The Associated Press that it came as an “external shock” for Costa Rica, a majority Roman Catholic nation with an increasing evangelical population.

“Our message has already won. We are very happy and we hope we have convinced more undecideds,” he told local media.

Carlos Alvarado, who is not related to Fabricio Alvarado, was the only major candidate to openly back gay marriage and picked up some support recently from socially liberal voters. Trained as a journalist, he got his start in politics as communications director for Citizens’ Action and also was labour minister under current President Luis Guillermo Solis.

Mr Alvarez, a two-time president of the Legislative Assembly and a Cabinet minister under the first presidency of Oscar Arias in 1986-1990, said he opposes gay marriage but backs recognising certain other rights for gay couples. Voters were also selecting the 57 delegates that make up the Assembly. </s> Electoral officials in Costa Rica say the governing party's candidate has won a presidential runoff election in which same-sex marriage was a big issue.

Carlos Alvarado of the ruling Citizen Action Party has 60.6 per cent of the votes, with just over 90 per cent of ballots counted Sunday night.

Fabricio Alvarado of the National Restoration party has 39.4 per cent of the votes. The two men are not related.

Fabricio Alvarado had led the initial election round in early February after coming out strongly against a call by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for Costa Rica to allow same-sex marriage.

The new president spoke strongly for permitting gays to wed. </s> SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Ricans vote Sunday in a presidential race that has been turned on its ear by an international court ruling saying the country should let same-sex couples get married.

Evangelical candidate Fabricio Alvarado recently vaulted into first place in the polls after he took a strong stance against gay marriage, which about two-thirds of Costa Ricans also oppose.

His closest rivals are agri-businessman Antonio Alvarez of the opposition National Liberation Party and Carlos Alvarado of the governing Citizens' Action Party.

A recent survey showed that more than a third of likely voters were undecided. If no candidate gets 40 percent or more, the top two finishers advance to an April 1 runoff.

The January decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has come to play a central role in the campaign. It also ordered the country to grant same-sex couples rights such the ability to inherit estates and adopt children.

Political analyst Francisco Barahona told The Associated Press that it came as an "external shock" for Costa Rica, a majority Roman Catholic nation.

Fabricio Alvarado, a 43-year-old journalist, preacher and Christian singer, called the ruling a "sovereign violation" and saw his support balloon in the polls as socially conservative voters gravitated to that message.

Carlos Alvarado — no relation — is the only major candidate to openly back gay marriage and has picked up some support recently from socially liberal voters. A 38-year-old also trained as a journalist, he got his start in politics as communications director for Citizens' Action and also was labor minister under current President Luis Guillermo Solis.

Alvarez, a two-time president of the Legislative Assembly and a Cabinet minister under the first presidency of Oscar Arias in 1986-1990, says he opposes gay marriage but backs recognizing certain other rights for gay couples.

Voters will also be selecting the 57 delegates that make up the Assembly. </s> SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Costa Ricans voted Sunday in a presidential race shaken by an international court ruling saying the country should let same-sex couples get married.

Evangelical candidate Fabricio Alvarado recently vaulted into first place in opinion polls after he took a strong stance against gay marriage, which about two-thirds of Costa Ricans also oppose.

His closest rivals were agri-businessman Antonio Alvarez of the opposition National Liberation Party and Carlos Alvarado of the governing Citizens' Action Party.

But the outlook was cloudy because none of 13 candidates polled at more than 17 per cent and surveys indicated that more than a third of likely voters were undecided.

If no candidate reaches 40 per cent of the total vote, the top two finishers advance to an April 1 runoff.

“I see this as very divided,” said Paula Rodriguez, a psychologist who cast her vote in Moravia, on the northeastern outskirts of the capital, San Jose. “I really think nobody knows what will happen.”

The January decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights came to play a central role in the campaign. The court also ordered the country to grant same-sex couples such rights as the ability to inherit estates and adopt children.

Political analyst Francisco Barahona told The Associated Press that it came as an “external shock” for Costa Rica, a majority Roman Catholic nation with an increasing evangelical population.

Alvarado, a journalist, preacher and Christian singer, called the ruling a “sovereign violation” and saw his support balloon in the polls as socially conservative voters gravitated to that stance.

“Our message has already won. We are very happy and we hope we have convinced more undecideds,” Alvarado told local media.

Carlos Alvarado, who is not related to Fabricio Alvarado, was the only major candidate to openly back gay marriage and picked up some support recently from socially liberal voters. Trained as a journalist, he got his start in politics as communications director for Citizens' Action and also was labour minister under current President Luis Guillermo Solis.

Alvarez, a two-time president of the Legislative Assembly and a Cabinet minister under the first presidency of Oscar Arias in 1986-1990, said he opposes gay marriage but backs recognizing certain other rights for gay couples.

Some voters had other issues on their minds. Carlos Morales, who cast a ballot in the Guadalupe district of San Jose, said his biggest concern is that the next president manage the government's deficit without creating new taxes.

“They say the government is broke and to fix that they are going to impose more taxes on us,” Morales said shortly before polls closed Sunday evening. “But I think people here are already living very tightly. Everything is very expensive, and that would hurt us all.”

Voters were also selecting the 57 delegates that make up the Assembly. </s> Costa Rica's ruling-party is all set to be the country's next leader, according to preliminary poll results posted by electoral officials.

Alvarado is on the track to win the presidential election, overcoming a challenge by a who ran on his opposition to same-sex marriage, The Post reported.

With about 90 percent of the votes counted, Alvarado, who had served in cabinet positions for the current president, Luis Guillermo Solis, had captured 60.6 percent, according to the country's

His opponent, Fabricio Alvarado Munoz, had been riding momentum based on his opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion and his stance on other social issues.

He, however, received only 39.3 percent of the votes, at the time of filing this report.

The in had become consumed by social issues in recent weeks.

This year, the Inter- of Human Rights ruled that member countries should allow same-sex marriage.

"The inter-American court's ruling was really the equivalent of dropping an atomic bomb on the race. The whole race was transformed literally overnight. The election became, de facto, a referendum on same-sex marriage," The Post quoted Kevin Casas-Zamora, a senior fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue in and former of Costa Rica, as saying.

Central American countries tend to be predominantly Catholic and socially conservative, with relatively strict laws limiting abortion.

In Costa Rica, the evangelical vote has been growing in recent decades, and polls have shown that a majority of Costa Ricans oppose same-sex marriage.
Costa Ricans head to the polls to elect a new President, amidst a gay rights controversy.