Aristide was first elected in 1990, ending nearly 200 years of dictatorship. A bloody army coup kicked him out seven months later, followed by a terroristic military government, and than an invasion by U.S. troops to restore Aristide to power. Opposition activist Evans Paul said ballot boxes were stuffed and tally sheets altered to make it look like a higher turnout. Some polls closed hours early for lack of voters. Due to boycotts, violence, apathy and fear, a record small number of voters turned out in Haiti's election, guaranteeing the restoration to power of former priest and former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Opponents fear a dictatorship.
Aristide was beating six unknown rivals. He was restored to power by a U.S.-led invasion in 1994. In 1996 Aristide had to step down because Haiti's constitution does not allow for consecutive terms of office as president. There names will appear on the ballot, but that leaves Aristide and four other candidates running for real. Aristide's Lavalas Family party got 18 of the 19 Senate seats up, and electoral observers said 10 of those seats should have had runoffs.