BOGOTA, Colombia. — Colombians waited Sunday night for the results of a presidential election widely considered the most polarized in recent history after a day of voting across the country.

“Not everyone will be happy with the result,” voter Gabriel Villaroel said. “The violence is something that the country has not agreed on how to manage.”

Sen. Iván Cepeda, 63, cast his vote just before noon. Cepeda has pushed for more negotiations with armed groups as a solution to the country’s surging violence.

Cepeda leads the polls. A former member of the Communist Party, he is seen as even more left-wing than his predecessor, current President Gustavo Petro.

Asked for a message to the hundreds of thousands of Colombians living in South Florida, Cepeda spoke directly to the community.

“A subsidy only lasts for a moment, and paying people for their vote only lasts for a moment,” voter Sandra Silva said in Spanish.

Cepeda sent his affection to Colombians in Miami and asked that they vote in a way that is respectful to democracy.

Outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, meanwhile, has called for a heavy-handed crackdown on crime, including building new prisons in the jungle to house criminals.

He has portrayed himself as a far-right, Trumpian figure who is not affiliated with the political elite.

“Colombia’s economy is better than ever. If anyone has benefited, it’s the guilds, businesspeople and trade associations,” said Camilo Romero in Spanish, a leader of the Historic Pact coalition.

The voter said she is worried about violence and sees de la Espriella as an opportunity sent by God.

With more than 25% of Colombians still undecided going into Election Day, Sen. Paloma Valencia hoped those voters would break in her favor.

The center-right establishment candidate has portrayed herself as a more moderate and safer choice than de la Espriella.

A thriving economy has helped boost the Cepeda campaign.

With his party in power, poverty has dropped and living standards have improved.

“With all my affection and recognition for the community that is there in Miami, may they vote in a manner that is respectful of democracy,” he said in Spanish.

Romero said Colombia’s economy is better than ever, arguing that unions and businesses are thriving and that ordinary people are also feeling the improvement.

But overspending has led to a growing deficit that many fear could create economic troubles in the future.

“I think there is a change, and God is giving us an opportunity to move forward,” voter Leonel Sánchez said in Spanish.

Silva argued that a subsidy only lasts a moment and encouraged Colombians to think about the future.

The first round of voting was expected to narrow the field, with two polar opposites likely to advance.

“This division doesn’t benefit anyone,” voter Daniel Felipe Ramírez said. “One way or another I hope we will discover that it’s better if we work together than divided.”

Polls have closed and results are beginning to come in. A final result could come at any moment. If no candidate reaches 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to a second round in two weeks.

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