PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti_Haiti's long-awaited presidential rerun and legislative elections finally arrived Sunday.
Some voters they were happy Election Day had arrived. They hoped the vote would be the last time the first round of the last Oct. 25 presidential race would need to be rerun, and looked forward to a legitimate government in place in Haiti.
"I came to vote today for change, to have a beautiful Haiti, to put an end to this rising cost of living," said Dieunet Joseph., who was the first in line to vote at Lycee Petionville.
Throughout Haiti, polls were late to open, radio reported.
In addition to the deployment of nearly 13,000 Haitian National Police and United Nations Police officers, Haiti is also using drones to keep watch over Election Day.
Haiti chose to rerun last year's presidential election runoff after allegations of widespread fraud. Former President Michel Martelly was forced to leave office without an elected successor when his five-year term ended Feb. 7. An interim government has been in charge since.
Foreign nations, led by the United States, criticized the decision to repeat the runoffs and said they would not provide help pay for the rerun's $55 million cost. After Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti Oct. 4, the U.S. somewhat reversed course and gave about $5 million to help prepare damaged voting stations.
