J.R. arrived at the polls at 4:45 a.m. to observe the setup of the polling stations.

A crowd pours into the election center as the polls open at 7:00 a.m.

An ARENA supporter shows his ink-stained finger after voting.

J.R. observes as poll workers dispute the validity of a Voter I.D. card during the vote.

Woman shows her ink-stained finger after voting.

A man looks for his name and photo to find out at which table he is allowed to vote. All voters have a picture I.D. that must be presented when voting. That same photo is on the voter rolls at each polling station.

A voter dips her thumb in ink to show she has already voted. The process is an extra measure of security to prevent double-voting.

J.R. observes a table where poll workers were accused of ignoring processes that prevent double-voting.

National Police patrol outside the polling stations to prevent and protect against violence on election day.

An illiterate woman places her fingerprint on the voter rolls instead of a signature.

A crowd of voters and party members forms around a polling station where a Voter I.D. is being disputed. Crowds often formed around stations to advocate for or against a voter with a questionable I.D. More frequently than not, the voter is allowed to vote after producing supporting documents or by a majority vote of the poll workers at the station.

An elderly woman from San Salvador votes at a voting booth.

Police guard the doors after the vote to secure the ballot counting process.

J.R. observes the vote count as a ballot is held up for inspection by the table.

J.R. observed the ballot counting process at the voting center. Millions of votes are hand counted throughout the entire country on election night after the polls close at 5:00 p.m.

Supporters of the FMLN hug in celebration after hearing their candidate won a majority of the stations at the voting center.

Police form two lines to create a barrier between supporters of the two parties as they march the streets outside the voting center.

J.R. visits with John Wright Rios, a former resident of this neighborhood, near a church community center.

J.R. meeting residents of a neighborhood outside San Salvador.

J.R. looks down into a trench where new water lines are being installed. Water in El Salvador, when available, is undrinkable.

J.R. met a Community Police Officer on a visit to a middle-class neighborhood outside San Salvador.

J.R. shaking hands with ARENA deputy Rafael Lemus.

Claeys thanks Alejandro Garcia for showing the observation team the site of the 1989 slayings of Jesuit Priests.

Due to the violence prior to the elections and the expectation of conflict after, armed security is present to protect the team of observers.

The home of an El Salvadorian family that invited J.R. and the observation team to breakfast before they left the country.

The El Salvadorian family that invited J.R. and the observation team to breakfast before they left the country.