PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Nov. 20, CMC – Approximately six million registered voters are heading to the polls here on Sunday in a presidential election that has been long overdue.
Haiti’s elections had been scheduled for October 9 , but was postponed due to the devastation cause by Hurricane Matthew  – the Category four storm that slammed into the country.

The  previous elections, in 2015, were canceled because of violence and fraud, leaving Haiti in political limbo.

Since President Michel Martelly demitted office in February parliament elected Jocelerme Privert as interim president, but his 120-day mandate expired in June.

Haiti was also forced to postpone the scheduled second round of elections in January this year amid protests after the front-runner Jude Celestin said he would not campaign until government officials addressed fraud allegations resulting from the October 25 poll last year.

The results of last year’s presidential election were disputed and then annulled after a special commission reported finding what appeared to be significant fraud and professional misconduct.

As a result, Haiti has had a caretaker government for nearly a year.

Sunday’s balloting will also complete Parliament as the voters pick a third of the Senate and the 25 remaining members of the Chamber of Deputies.

The four main challengers for the post of president are Jean-Henri Céant, Jovenel Moise, Moïse Jean-Charles and Celestin.

The election is being observed by representatives from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of American States (OAS), who along with 4,246 local observers will be keeping an eye on voting.

In addition, the Haitian National Police, which has been strengthened with international assistance, is playing a larger role in maintaining security than it did in previous electoral cycles.

A total of 2,026 U.N. police officers and 1,468 peacekeeper troops will assist nearly 9,500 members of Haiti’s police force to maintain security.

There will also be some 5,400 security agents conscripted by the Provisional Electoral Council to help keep order at voting centers.

The results of the election results are not scheduled to be released for eight days, but electoral council director Uder Antoine has said it might take longer.