PARIS, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The two Elysee contenders -- Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal -- cast their ballots in the presidential run-off on Sunday to cheers from their supporters.

    Neither conservative Sarkozy nor socialist Royal made a speech after voting but both were greeted by supporters, who chanted " Nicolas, president" and "Segolene, president" respectively.

    Sarkozy voted in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a suburb of Paris. Royal cast her ballot in Melle, a tiny town some 400 km south of Paris. Both voted shortly after noon.

    Outgoing President Jacques Chirac voted in Sarran, a town in central France.

    Some 43.5 million voters in mainland France went to the polls on Sunday to choose their new president. Sarkozy and Roya entered the second round run-off after knocking out centrist Francois Bayrou and far right veteran Jean-Marie Le Pen as and eight other candidates.

    Voters in France's overseas territories and expatriates living in the United States cast their ballots a day earlier than those on the mainland.

    Voter turnout reached 34.11 percent by mid-day Sunday, the highest in three decades, according to the Interior Ministry.

    The mid-day voter turnout rate was also higher than the 31.21 percent mid-day rate in the first round held on April 22.

    Opinion polls released prior to a media blackout by Friday had consistently put Sarkozy ahead of Royal, who would be the first woman to become France's head of state.

    Sunday's vote is not a foregone conclusion as a high proportion of centrist voters were hesitant. In addition, just how many supporters of Le Pen would follow his advice and abstain remains unclear.

    The results of Sunday's vote will not be known until all polling stations close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT).