Italians waited in long queues at polling booths to vote in an election that could bring political gridlock after a campaign marked by anger over the listless economy, high unemployment and immigration.
Pollsters predicted that former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and his far-right allies would emerge as the largest bloc in parliament, but fall short of a parliamentary majority.
Early indications from exit polls released shortly after the polls closed at 10pm Irish time tonight for Rai state television and private channel La 7 showed a hung parliament is the likely outcome
According to the polls, a centre-right coalition is set to win most seats in parliament ahead of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, with the centre-left third.
However, the centre-right, which includes Mr Berlusconi's Forza Italia (Go Italy!), and the far-right League and Brothers of Italy, were seen falling someway short of an absolute majority, pollsters said.
5-Star is likely to be the largest single party by a widemargin, with 29.5% -32.5% of the vote for the lower house,according to the Rai exit poll.
A centre-left alliance dominated by former prime minister Matteo Renzi's ruling Democratic Party (PD) was projected to win 25-28%, with the PD itself set to take 20-23%.
Support for the centre-right bloc totaled 33-36%, Rai said. Within the centre-right, the League and Forza Italia were seen level on 12.5% -15.5%, with Brothers of Italy on 3.5% -5.5%.
An exit poll on Sky Italia television showed the League on 14.5% in the lower house, with Forza Italia on 14%.
