Winners likely to emerge around midnight; tight races may extend to 3-4 a.m.

The outcome of most races in Wednesday's local elections and parliamentary by-elections is expected to become clear by midnight, while tightly contested races could remain undecided until around 3 a.m. or 4 a.m.

Thursday, according to the National Election Commission.

Voting, which began nationwide at 6 a.m., will continue until 6 p.m., after which exit poll results will be announced.

Ballot counting is expected to begin in earnest about 20 minutes after polls close.

Results from metropolitan an ...