Voters in 21 of the European Union's 28 member states - including Germany, France and Italy - are called upon to vote on Sunday, on the last of four days of elections for the bloc's next parliament.
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Since Thursday, around 418 million people across Europe have been able to elect the 751 members of the European Parliament, in what is being described as the world's biggest trans-national elections.
The vote launches a new political cycle, including a change of leadership in the EU's key institutions. It comes at a time of soul-searching over Britain's planned departure and threats from within and outside the bloc.
Opinion polls suggest that far-right, eurosceptic populists could win up to a third of seats in the new parliament, potentially hampering EU decision-making over the next five years.
In France, a recent poll puts President Emmanuel Macron's La Republique En Marche behind the National Rally of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who has pledged to team up in parliament with Italy's governing populist League.
In Germany, meanwhile, a poor performance for the Social Democrats - who will also be tested in Bremen state elections - could augur badly for the junior partner in Chancellor Angela Merkel's grand coalition.
Voting has already taken place in Britain - which participated reluctantly after delaying its EU departure date - the Netherlands, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Malta and Slovakia.
Results are held back until after Sunday's close of polling in the final country, Italy, at 11 pm (0700 Monday AEST).
Voting on Sunday also takes place on Sunday in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
The elections will play an important role in determining who will be the next European Commission president, a post currently held by Jean-Claude Juncker.
Most European political groups have put forward lead candidates under the so-called Spitzenkandidaten system, although EU leaders - who are responsible for nominating a candidate - have stressed that they are not bound by the system.
The centre-right European People's Party, whose candidate is German EU lawmaker Manfred Weber, is expected to garner the most votes.
However, exit polls in the Netherlands gave an unexpected boost to his Socialist challenger, commission Vice President Frans Timmermans, placing his party in the lead domestically with 18.4 per cent of the vote.
Australian Associated Press
