This crucial vote will also determine France's next prime minister, who will likely emerge from the party or coalition winning the most seats. French President Emmanuel Macron called for snap legislative elections after the far right trounced his centrist alliance in the June 9 European Parliament elections.

The National Assembly's 577 total MPs are elected for five-year terms in two rounds (June 30 and July 7). On Sunday, 501 seats remain undecided after dozens of MPs secured their positions outright in the first round.

Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party led the first round with 33% of the vote, according to interior ministry figures. The New Popular Front leftist alliance followed in second place with nearly 28%, while President Macron's ruling coalition trailed in third place with 20%.

The second-round voting commenced Saturday off the Canadian coast in the North Atlantic territory of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. Voting continued across French territories in the Caribbean, South Pacific, and Indian Ocean, as well as among French voters living abroad.

Initial polling projections are expected when the final voting stations close at 8 pm Paris time (1800 GMT), with early official results anticipated late Sunday and early Monday. (ILKHA)