ANKARA 

Polls closed at 11 p.m. local time (2100GMT) in Italy, bringing voting to a close in Sunday's snap general election. 

According to exit polls, far-right leader Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party is expected to win the majority of the votes, or between 22%-26%.

The right-wing alliance of FdI, with Matteo Salvini's Lega party and Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italy are expected to obtain 41%-45% of the vote, enough to guarantee control of both houses of parliament.

Meloni is set to become be Italy's first female prime minister, and the country will for the first time since World War II have a far-right leader.

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella dissolved Parliament in July and called for an early election on Sept. 25, marking the end of the government led by Prime Minister Mario Draghi, which lasted about a year and a half.

Nearly 51 million people are eligible to vote in what could be a pivotal election, with over 4 million Italians living abroad having cast their ballots before Sunday.

Some 51% of the voters in Italy are women, among a total population of 59 million.

Voters 18 and older will also be able to elect members of Parliament's upper chamber, a first in Italian history made possible following the endorsement of Italy's Senate. They could already vote for the lower house of parliament.

Voting started nationwide at 7 a.m. local time (0500GMT).

Italians will elect 200 senators and 400 deputies in Parliament.