Angela Merkel tells supporters: "We have mandate to govern"
Martin Schulz's centre-left SPD comes a poor second
The SPD rules out another 'grand coalition' with Merkel's CDU
Right-wing nationalist AfD is set to come third
AfD has never been in parliament before
Liberal FDP heads for a return to the Bundestag
These are the numbers according to public broadcaster ARD/infratest-dmap
Centre-right CDU/CSU: 32.5%
Centre-left SPD: 20%
Right-wing nationalist AfD: 13.5%
Liberal FDP: 10.5%
Greens: 9.5%
Die Linke (The Left): 9%
Exit poll shows Chancellor Merkel's CDU/CSU alliance has won the most seats in the federal election, with 32.5% of the vote.
In a shock result, according to the projection, the right-wing nationalist AfD will win 13.5% and will enter the Bundestag for the first time.
(Polling carried out by infratest-dimap)
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Image source, AFPJenny Hill looks at the background of the German chancellor, who has led the country since 2005.
Read her in-depth article here.
Image source, ReutersThese protesters in Berlin's government quarter brought along an elephant to campaign for more frequent elections. There are four years between each federal election and they say that is too long.
Alternative for Germany are expected to win their first seats in the Bundestag.
Image source, ReutersExpect hundreds of protesters outside the right-wing nationalist party's HQ in Berlin's Alexanderplatz on Sunday evening.
These demonstrators have already found their voice.
Germany uses a mixed system, external of first-past-the-post and proportional representation.
Each voter casts two votes - The first is a direct vote for candidates in 299 constituencies, the second is for a party list in each of Germany's 16 states.
There are another 299 seats on the party list, but extra seats are also created so that the size of a party in the Bundestag is in line with its share of the second vote.
In the previous Bundestag there were 630 seats.
Only four parties were represented in the Bundestag from 2013-17, counting the CDU and its Bavarian CSU sister party as one.
The next Bundestag could have an unprecedented six - out of a total of 34 parties taking part. Apart from the big two parties, four others have all been polling upwards of 8%: the Greens, socialist Die Linke (The Left), AfD and the free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP).
Half an hour to go and Focus magazine asks if Germany's about to be shaken by a political quake - or will it be more of the same with Angela Merkel?
Die Zeit says 73,500 polling stations are still open around Germany for voters to have their say.
German news agency DPA says turnout is "steady".
Germany's population is 82.8 million and it has 61.5 million voters
There are 299 constituencies across 16 states. Double that number and add some more for the total number of parliamentary seats at stake - to take in the separate party vote.
A look back at the history of Germany and its political leaders since the end of World War Two.
Germany: A history of division and unity
One thing to look out for is how well the AfD (Alternative for Germany) fare at the ballot box. They are right-wing nationalist and have fought a campaign highlighting immigration. Berlin police have confirmed to the BBC that they have given permission for an anti-AfD protest outside the party's HQ in Alexanderplatz this evening.
The SPD leader, accompanied by his wife Inge, voted earlier in the day in Wuerselen, near Aachen.
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Here is a video of the CDU candidate and chancellor voting in the Mitte area of Berlin with her husband. Her party's colour is black, so the umbrella was clearly on message.
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Germany's voters have until 18:00 local time to cast their ballots. Angela Merkel is looking for a fourth term as chancellor but her former coalition partner, the centre-left SPD, is aiming to have enough support to put together its own coalition, led by Martin Schulz.
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For the first time since World War Two, six parties are expected to enter the Bundestag, including a group of right-wing nationalists.
Read more on why this election is important.
Image source, ReutersBBC World colleagues are all set up ready for an evening of coverage from the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of the German capital.
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This BBC producer is on the list for the right-wing nationalist party's election event. Alternative for Germany is looking to have seats in the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, for the first time.
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In the capital, Berlin, it has been a bit of a damp afternoon but the sun has come out for the final hour or so of voting. Berlin has been enjoying its annual marathon and some of the runners are still crossing the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate, a short distance from the parliament building.
According to a statement from the office of Germany's federal returning officer, which oversees elections, turnout at 14:00 local time was 41.1%.
That's slightly lower than the figure for the same time four years ago, which was 41.4%.
The figures do not include postal votes.
Quote MessageThe Federal Returning Officer calls on all those entitled to vote who have not yet cast their votes to exercise their right to vote. The polling stations are open until 6 p.m.
Office of the Federal Returning Officer