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Joe Anderson, Labour's candidate as the new Mayor for Liverpool, will net around half of the votes as "first choice", according to an exit poll.
That is the prediction of the survey of voters conducted by Bay TV Liverpool and it could mean that the election will rely on counting "2nd preference votes".
Ten candidates joined the race become the city's first-ever Executive Mayor - a post that will have far-reaching powers.
Joe Anderson, the current Leader of the Labour Group on the city council, has been widely tipped to secure a safe victory.
But he can do that in the "first count" only if he lands more than 50% of the "1st Choice" votes.
Voters have also been asked to express a 2nd choice and there is a risk that, if goes to counting those second preferences, some other candidate could also come to the fore.
According to the Bay TV Liverpool exit poll Joe Anderson is clearly ahead on 1st choice votes which are widely spread among a number of the other candidates.
Independent Liam Fogarty is predicted to net about 12% of the votes, and Tony Mulhearn is also said to have put up a good show with around 8 per cent.
Lib/Dems and Tories are predicted to be disappointed with other candidates in single figure percentage points of the poll, with some hardly attracting any support.
Some pundits suggest that the fact that Joe Anderson has been predicted to take the Mayor's job with a big margin, has discouraged people from "bothering" to vote.
Bay TV Liverpool conducted the exit poll in the Wavertree ward which is regarded as holding a good cross-section of views.
Bay TV Liverpool also will be covering the count at Wavertree Sports Centre, with the result expected to be declared between 2am and 3am.
The site http://www.baytvliverpool.com will have a video news report as soon as possible.
If there is to be a second choice count the result could come much later.
