Algeria's electoral authority is expected to announce the results of the presidential election later on Sunday, with incumbent Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 78, predicted to easily secure a second term.

Tebboune is running against Abdelaali Hassani, a moderate Islamist candidate, and Youcef Aouchiche, a socialist.

Tebboune's main challenge was to increase voter turnout after the 2019 elections, which saw a historic 60% abstention rate.

This year's vote, held on Saturday, was marked by low enthusiasm despite the calls from both challengers to end the boycott and make the elections more credible.

By early Sunday, the electoral authority, ANIE, announced a provisional 48% turnout, but it did not specify how many of the 24 million registered voters had actually cast their ballots.

Read more: Algerians head to polls to elect president as Tebboune eyes new term

Voting was extended by one hour on Saturday night in a last-minute effort to boost participation.

Algerians who voted expressed hopes for real change, with some calling for a better future under the next president.

"We want this election to result in a real change... a change for the better," voter Hassane Boudaoud told AFP.

"We're optimistic that the next president will pay great attention to our concerns," he added.

Read more: France-Algeria relations remain tense after decades of independence