(13 Dec 1995) English/Nat
U-N personnel are distributing millions of ballots ahead of Sunday's presidential elections in Haiti.
U-N and U-S troops have been deployed to provide security and logistics assistance.
This year's campaign has been fairly peaceful, but many Haitians believe there could still be trouble ahead.
Haitians are getting ready for the upcoming presidential elections.
At this Canadian warehouse, thousands of ballots are being stored before they're sent to voting polls throughout the country.
Haiti will hold presidential elections on Sunday -- the first since President Jean-Bertrand Aristide returned from exile on October 15, 1994.
More than four (m) million ballots have been stored at the warehouse.
And staff members will make sure they arrive on time for the voting.
SOUNDBITE: (In English)
"We have an assembly operation for Haitian election where the kits and the ballot area are put together to be sent and shipped to different locations.The shipping is done by three modes of transportation which is ground, air and sea. (Q: How many ballots are we talking about?)...We're talking about 4.5 million."
SUPER CAPTION: Jeff Golman, Camp Canargus
U-N and U-S troops have been deployed to assist in the distribution of the ballots.
They will also provide security and logistics assistance.
Though previous elections have been marred by violence, this year's campaign has been fairly peaceful.
But violence still threatens to affect voting turnout.
Early Tuesday gunmen opened fire on the home of a leading presidential candidate- Leon Jeune- but no one was wounded.
Although the shooting was just an isolated incident during the final week of campaign there are fears it could dissuade people from voting.
The campaign has also lacked passion in part because of uninspiring candidates and an outcome that for many seems pre-determined.
Former Premier Rene Preval- Aristide's hand-picked candidate- is expected to sweep Sunday's ballot.
Still some Haitians fear trouble.
SOUNDBITE: (In English)
"There are some people still scare because they don't know what's going to happen."
SUPER CAPTION: Alexis St. Francis, voter
U-N and U-S military personnel have joined a campaign to prevent absenteeism on Sunday.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We are also putting leaflets to encourage them to vote this coming Sunday for their presidential election."
SUPER CAPTION: Sergeant Dave Powery, U-S Army
The presidential elections are crucial to the island's frail democracy.
And local and international supporters hope Haitians will take the step towards a smooth democratic transition by casting their ballots on Sunday.
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