Montevideo, October 24 (RHC-Mercopress) -- The three main presidential candidates for Uruguay's election on Sunday closed their campaigns last night with three huge political rallies that gathered thousands of supporters and put an end to months of travel, speeches and baby kissing, in what could prove to be the tightest race in recent years.

Under Uruguayan law, as of Friday, a 48 hour ban on all political activity becomes effective which includes the release of opinion polls or any other party-related news.

The ban extends until Sunday evening when the voting booths close. On Election Day, there is also a ban on the sale of alcohol.

Candidate Tabaré Vázquez, who according to all opinion polls leads in vote intention (42%), made a strong appeal to all supporters of the ruling Broad Front coalition to vote on Sunday and quoted verses from some local poets to thank all that “human sea” that turned out to the campaign's closing rally.

Thirty kilometers away in the second most important electoral district of Uruguay, Canelones in the city of Las Piedra, the main opposition candidate Luis Lacalle Pou and the National party celebrated their campaign closing rally with thousands of supporters singing and cheering.

Back in Montevideo and a few kilometers from where the Broad Front held their final rally, the junior opposition Colorado Party and presidential candidate Pedro Bordaberry celebrated the end of the campaign with a significant turnout, full of music and dancing despite opinion polls indicate that they are a distant third with 18% vote intention.

On Sunday, if no candidate garners 50% of valid ballots, there will be a run off at the end of November. All opinion polls coincide that there will be a second round between the two main contenders, Vazquez and Lacalle Pou. A majority of the Colorado Party and Bordaberry in that scenario will support Lacalle Pou.