A sixth secret ballot for selecting the new UN Secretary General will be held today by the United Nations Security Council. Today's ballot will signal whether former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is likely to be the next Chief or whether one of the five permanent Security Council members might veto his bid. <br/><br/>Guterres has come out atop the five closed door polls since July. A total of 10 candidates are in the fray for the top post. Ban Ki-moon, the present Secretary General, will step down at the end of 2016 after two five-year terms.<br/><br/>The Security Council casts ballots for each candidate with the choices of: encourage, discourage or no opinion. When the council is ready to recommend a candidate to the 193-member General Assembly for election, it will adopt a resolution behind closed doors. The resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes to pass.

A sixth secret ballot for selecting the new UN Secretary General will be held today by the United Nations Security Council. Today's ballot will signal whether former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is likely to be the next Chief or whether one of the five permanent Security Council members might veto his bid. <br/><br/>Guterres has come out atop the five closed door polls since July. A total of 10 candidates are in the fray for the top post. Ban Ki-moon, the present Secretary General, will step down at the end of 2016 after two five-year terms.<br/><br/>The Security Council casts ballots for each candidate with the choices of: encourage, discourage or no opinion. When the council is ready to recommend a candidate to the 193-member General Assembly for election, it will adopt a resolution behind closed doors. The resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes to pass.