The vote counting has begun for Haiti’s presidential re-run election, held Sunday after being delayed once more because of Hurricane Matthew in October.
Residents voted for one of more than 27 presidential candidates as well as 179 other candidates vying for 16 Senate seats and 25 Lower Chamber of Deputies positions. Although some outlets suggested results might be available late Monday, others feel it will take many days or even weeks to get a final tally.
The impoverished island nation has been waiting for a new leader for over a year, since the last election on Oct. 25, 2015, turned out to be filled with so much fraud that leaders decided to have a do-over.
According to Reuters, voters are hopeful a new president will help the country get back on its feet after Hurricane Matthew, which destroyed many homes, killed hundreds, and left 1.4 million people needing help.
The election seemed to take place without violence and with much less fraud than last year’s event. Indelible ink stamps were used in an effort to prevent people from voting more than once. Minor problems with registration lists and possible fraudulent voter ID cards were reported, but most polling stations reported few problems of any kind, according to the Miami Herald. There were a few minor incidents, like an attempt to torch a Port Margot voting center, but the day was mostly peaceful and quiet.
Some officials are worried about low voter turnout and speculated it may be due to damage from the hurricane keeping people from getting to polling places.
A temporary blackout in the capital left some election officials counting via candlelight, and a few polling places were delayed in opening because of rising rivers, but the process went on despite the challenges, the Miami Herald reported.
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