Morales on course for another five years

Voters are also choosing a new congress, with Mr Morales' Movement Toward Socialism party hoping for a two-thirds majority in order to push pro-indigenous policies.

Pre-election polls put Mr Morales way ahead of his nearest competitor in a field of nine candidates - Manfred Reyes, a former state governor associated with the discredited ruling class, has just 20 per cent support.

His running mate is in jail, accused of backing a massacre of Morales supporters in 2008 while state governor.

A more centrist opposition candidate, cement magnate Samuel Doria Medina, is running third with about 10 per cent support.

Andean Information Network analyst Kathy Ledebur argued that the right "hasn't been able to come up with anything that is new or inspires confidence."

Mr Morales has used profits from the country's natural gas industry, which he nationalised in May 2006, to provide highly popular subsidies to schoolchildren, new mothers and the elderly.

Benefiting from higher prices for the natural gas and minerals that account for the bulk of Bolivia's exports, the economy grew 6 per cent last year and is on track for a 3 per cent rise in 2009.

In January, voters ratified a new constitution that remade Bolivia as a "plurinational" state, allowing self-rule for the country's 36 native peoples.

Twelve of Bolivia's 330-plus municipalities voted on indigenous autonomy on Sunday. Approval would introduce traditional Native American governance based on consensus building.

Analysts commented that with the support of the poor and indigenous, there was almost zero chance of Mr Morales losing.