Polling stations in Croatia's election for the European Parliament were closed at 7 pm Sunday, and preliminary election results will be announced after 11 pm.

Only minor irregularities were reported during the voting process but they did not affect the process, State Election Commission (DIP) deputy chair Vesna Fabijancic-Krizanic said.

The turnout by 4.30 pm was 21.31 percent.

Apart from Croatia, Croatians eligible to vote could go to the polls in 46 other countries. Due to time differences, polling stations have already been closed in Australia, Japan, Indonesia and India.

The polling station that opened last, in Los Angeles, will be closed at 4 am Monday, Zagreb time.

Slightly more than 3.8 million Croatians had the right to vote for candidates running in elections for the European Parliament. Deputies are elected according to proportional representation with the possibility of preferential voting. Preferential votes count only if a candidate on a slate wins at least 10 percent of the votes won by their slate, the election threshold being five percent.

First exit polls: HDZ wins four seats in European Parliament, SDP three

The first exit polls published by the state television show that the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) can count on four seats in the EP after winning 23.43 percent of the vote, while the strongest opposition party, the Social Democrats (SDP), can count on three seats.

The independent slate of former judge Mislav Kolakusic has won 8.0 percent of the vote, the Sovereignists have won 6.43 percent, Zivi Zid 6.25 percent and the Amsterdam Coalition 5.59 percent, and they can all count on one seat each.

The Independents for Croatia party has also passed the threshold (5.09 percent), exit polls show.