His challengers are Hamat Bah, who is running under the banner of the newly formed United Front, a coalition of four parties, and Ousainou Darboe, from the main opposition United Democratic Party.
Jammeh has ruled Gambia, a small West African nation and popular tourist destination, since seizing power in a 1994 coup.
He has since won three elections but he has frequently been accused of trying to muzzle the media and threatening human rights groups. He has also jailed several members of his inner circle in recent years over alleged coup plots.
In July Jammeh said neither an election nor a coup could remove him from power, and was so confident of winning that he would not need to take part in the 10 day campaign period between November 12 and 22.
However, posters calling for Jammeh’s re-election are widespread while there are few signs of an opposition campaign.
Five opposition parties held weeks of talks on putting forward a single candidate but they could not agree on who it should be.
In keeping with Gambian tradition, voters will cast their ballots not with paper votes but marbles, which they will drop into the drum representing their candidate.