Chadians on Monday will choose whether to extend three decades of Deby family rule, in a country crucial in the fight against jihadism across the Sahel desert region.
Deby's main rival for president is Prime Minister Succes Masra, denounced as a stooge by critics in the absence of any other serious challengers.
Both men have vowed a first-round win in the polls, which international rights groups warn will not be free or fair.
"All those who have shown they want massive change must go and vote in massive numbers, peacefully," Masra, dressed in a blue boubou, said after voting.
Shortly after polls opened, turnout appeared relatively slow at five voting stations where several media outlets were present, including Agence France-Presse.
Yolane Madjilar, a 58-year-old Chadian who casted her ballot said she is "proud" of herself.
"I'm free and very happy to have voted for change," she said.
Madjilar also said she is prepared to defend her vote and fight for democratic elections.
"I don't like fraud, if someone comes with me this evening, I'll go and observe the counting," the 58-year-old said.
Lydie Beassemda, the only female presidential candidate in Chad's elections says she hopes Monday's vote will usher in a federal system of governance in the Central African nation.
"Since independence Chad was under military governance. Now we know that Chadians would like to have a federal state," she told VOA, adding, "when the referendum took place (in 2023) the tendency was for federal form of governance."
While some Chadians hoped that this year's vote will bring change, others questioned the impartiality of the nation's electoral body.
Djerandi Laguere Dionro, the president of the Chad Bar Association told VOA that ANGE, Chad's electoral commission, "tried to introduce provisions" in this year's elections that were not inline with the nation's electoral court.
"We are a bit afraid that in this period there will be a violation of human rights," Dionro said.
Lagardy Moltong, a Chadian project developer differed with Dionro. He said the electoral commission was well prepared to administer the elections.
Moltong said "everything was in place" before voting started.
"Now I think people are ready to go on Monday and vote," the project developer added.
Moltong said the winner of the presidential race will likely be Deby or Masra.
"The challenge will be between those two candidates. As we have gone through the campaigns now those are the main candidates who are raising crowds," he said.
Voting is due to end at 5:00 pm (1600 GMT), with results expected on May 21 and a possible second round on June 22.
VOA's Peter Clottey and James Butty contributed to this report. Some information was sourced from Agence France-Presse.
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