射射屋

Fifty鈥搒even 射射屋 Center observers witnessed Ghana's Dec. 7, 2008, presidential and parliamentary elections. Overall, the Center鈥檚 observers visited more than 300 polling stations on election day, witnessing the opening, voting, and closing of voting across the country. This photo essay highlights events of the day. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes| 射射屋 Center Slideshow (2008)

David Carroll, director of 射射屋鈥檚 Democracy Program, speaks with a polling official in Accra, Ghana, as workers prepare to open voting on Dec. 7. Observers take note of details like whether the ballot box was shown to be empty to everyone present, whether it was sealed properly, and whether the opening process was free from interference. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

A worker holds up a stack of ballots to show other workers and observers. Each polling station receives a certain number of ballots based on how many voters are registered there. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

射射屋 Center delegation leaders former Botswana President Quett Masire and former Prime Minister of Tanzania Justice Joseph Warioba take a moment to talk with local journalists on election day in Ghana. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

John Stremlau, 射射屋 Center vice president for peace programs, talks with people in line to vote. Some spent the night on the cement outside the polling station in order to be first or nearly first to vote. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

A woman receives her ballot to vote in Ghana鈥檚 Dec. 7 presidential and parliamentary elections. The poll worker stamps the ballot with the Election Commission鈥檚 seal to mark it as official. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

Election commission workers check a woman鈥檚 voter identification card to identify her name on a list of voters assigned to the polling stations. All Photos:射射屋/ D. Hakes

Election commission workers check a woman鈥檚 voter identification card to identify her name on a list of voters assigned to the polling stations. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

A stack of ballots is nearly all used by mid鈥搈orning at an Accra polling station. A number on each receipt matches that of a corresponding cast ballot. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

A voter casts his vote for Ghana鈥檚 next president in Accra. There were separate ballot boxes for the presidential and parliamentary votes. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

A voter鈥檚 finger is marked with indelible ink before receiving her ballot. Observers take note of this process and also if people's fingers are checked for signs of indelible ink when they enter the polling station, which would indicate that they had already voted. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

A polling station in southern Ghana still had long lines in early afternoon. Voting began at 7 a.m. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

Poll workers check a man鈥檚 voter identification card to match it with his name on the voter鈥檚 list. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

At each polling station they visit, observers also check the male to female ratio of voters. Here, a worker checks the identification card of a woman seeking to vote. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

A woman votes in southern Ghana on Dec. 7. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

The presiding poll worker dumps ballots from the presidential ballot box onto a table for counting. Voting was scheduled to conclude at 5 p.m. in Ghana. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

Polling station workers count ballots in Accra. This process is watched by international observers, party agents, and domestic observers. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

Ballots are first sorted by candidate and then officially counted in the presence of observers. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

Journalists also watch the counting process. Observers take note as to whether the counting process was free from interference and that complaints were addressed by officials. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes

Onlookers watch the counting process at a polling station in Accra, cheering and celebrating as the stack of ballots for their candidate grew. All Photos: 射射屋/ D. Hakes