Voters in a state in north-eastern Germany are going to the polls, in what is being seen as a serious challenge for Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The anti-migrant and anti-Islam Alternative fuer Deutschland (AFD) could perform better than Mrs Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.
Why is this significant?
The state election is being seen as a test of Merkel's migrant and refugee policies.
Her parliamentary constituency is in the region.
If the anti-immigration AFD does do better than her CDU, Merkel will go into national elections next year in a weaker position.
The national poll is expected in September 2017.
Sunday's vote is the first of five state votes due before then. The next is in Berlin on 18 September.
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg has been run for a decade by the parties that currently govern Germany.
The centre-left Social Democrats lead the regional government, with Merkel's Christian Democrats as their junior partner.
It is also currently the only state where the far-right National Democratic Party is represented in a state legislature.
The German Parliament's upper house is trying to ban the party.
Polls suggest it might be wiped out on Sunday as some supporters switch to the AFD.
In the German backwater of Mecklenburg, anti-immigrant feeling thrives https://t.co/0Wz5lHbKW9 pic.twitter.com/4Eg5ULPPgB- The Economist (@TheEconomist) September 2, 2016
How likely is the AFD to form a government in the state?
Not very.
All the other parties involved have ruled out the possibility of forming a governing coalition with the AFD.
In numbers
1.33 million - voters called to the polls
5 - duration in years of state parliament or Landtag
10 - years of SPD/CDU coalition to date
28 - % of SPD lead in one poll
23 - % of AFD support in poll
20 - % of CDU support in poll
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