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Haiti's delayed presidential election takes place Haiti's delayed presidential election takes place
(about 5 hours later)
Voting has finished in Haiti's general election, which was delayed for more than a year amid allegations of fraud. The people of Haiti finally went to the polls on Sunday to vote in a general election which was delayed for more than a year amid allegations of fraud.
The Caribbean nation was choosing a new president and lawmakers in the hope of restoring constitutional order. Officials have begun the time-consuming process of counting paper ballots, with no results expected for eight days.
The Caribbean nation was choosing a new president and lawmakers.
The results of the October 2015 vote were thrown out, creating a power vacuum when then-president Michel Martelly's mandate expired in February.The results of the October 2015 vote were thrown out, creating a power vacuum when then-president Michel Martelly's mandate expired in February.
Haiti has suffered from decades of corruption and, in recent years, a series of crippling natural disasters.Haiti has suffered from decades of corruption and, in recent years, a series of crippling natural disasters.
The most recent disaster, Hurricane Matthew, left hundreds of people dead, and destroyed thousands of homes. Voter turnout appeared low in south-western Haiti, according to reports - an area ravaged by Hurricane Matthew last month and drenched by rain on Sunday.
Many are still living in temporary accommodation, including schools due to be used as polling stations on Sunday. In the capital, Port-au-Prince, voters queued from early in the morning to to cast their ballots.
It has led to tensions between homeless families and the authorities, who want them to vacate so the vote can take place. "This is my responsibility as a citizen," Alain Joseph, a motorcycle taxi driver in the city, told the Associated Press.
However, there is hope among Haitians that this election may kick-start the process of rebuilding the disaster-hit nation. Helene Olivier, 72, said she was inspired to vote for the first time in the hope that a woman would win. Two of the 27 candidates on the ballot were women.
Polls were due to close at 21:00 GMT. Hurricane Matthew left hundreds of people dead and destroyed thousands of homes.
There are 27 presidential candidates to choose from, and the vote was monitored by the United Nations. Many are still living in temporary accommodation, including in schools which were due to be used as polling stations on Sunday.
There is hope among Haitians that the election may kick-start the process of rebuilding the disaster-hit nation.
"[I want] for everyone to come together, for the country to be rebuilt," Judeline Hubert, a 23-year-old nursing student from the south-western port of Les Cayes, told Reuters."[I want] for everyone to come together, for the country to be rebuilt," Judeline Hubert, a 23-year-old nursing student from the south-western port of Les Cayes, told Reuters.
The new president is expected to take over from Jocelerme Privert, the interim president, in February, following a possible second-round vote between the top two candidates in January.The new president is expected to take over from Jocelerme Privert, the interim president, in February, following a possible second-round vote between the top two candidates in January.
The vote was monitored by the United Nations.