Presidential election in Uruguay to be determined in Nov. 30 runoff

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The next president of Uruguay will be determined in a runoff election, according to exit polls that showed neither candidate secured more than 50 percent of Sunday's vote.

Tabare Vazquez of the incumbent's Broad Front party secured 44-46 percent of the votes, while his opponent, Luis Lacalle Pou of the right-wing National Party, captured 31-34 percent.

A runoff is expected to be held Nov. 30.

"Before the race began, security and education had emerged as two important concerns," Rosario Queirolo, a political science professor at Catholic University in Montevideo, told New York Times. "Voters are looking to issues beyond economic demands."

Vazquez, 74, was previously president from 2005-2010 and is considered the frontrunner due to his sustained popularity. Lacalle Pou, 41, is a leader in his conservative party and the son of former President Luis Alberto Lacalle.

Incumbent President Jose Mujica was barred by the constitution from running for a second consecutive term.