CNN. The first polls closed Saturday in Australia's tightly contested federal election to decide the next leader of the country.
Polls closed at 6 p.m. (4 a.m. ET) in the east, but voting was still taking place in western Australia.
Voting is mandatory for adults in Australia, and more than 14 million were expected to cast ballots. A spokesman for Australia's Electoral Commission said results would be posted online as they come in, but he could not say when final results would be released.
Labor Party incumbent Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition challenger Tony Abbott were neck and neck ahead of the voting, which Gillard -- Australia's first female prime minister -- had described a "cliff-hanger."
