As 859,613 registered voters are invited to cast their votes to choose the next President of the Republic, five international observers from ANFREL are monitoring the opening, polling, and counting processes at polling stations in the municipalities of Ainaro, Baucau, Covalima, and Dili.
Here are selected pictures to illustrate the "feast of democracy", as elections are sometimes called in the country.
We encourage all eligible Timorense citizens to take part in the exercise and make their voices heard. ANFREL's interim statement on the election's first round will be released on 21 March.
Voters in Baucau wait for the opening of their polling station.Polling staff in Dili take the pledge to uphold democracy, transparency, neutrality and impartiality in administering the election.A voter in Dili casts her vote in front of polling staff and fiscais (candidate agents).Prisoners in Covalima wait to cast their ballots in prison.A poll worker in Covalima manages the crowd waiting at a polling station.A polling station in Covalima.Baucau mayor and candidate number 13 Martinho Germano da Silva Gusmao gets his finger inked after casting his ballot.Voters cast their votes at a polling station in Dili.The director of Baucau hospital is talking to national media to explain why nearly 200 patients and their families will not be able to vote at the hospital's mobile polling station.
