Côte d'Ivoire Voting Starts Late; President Tipped To Win

An election worker carries election material at a community center in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. Côte d'Ivoire’s president Alassane Ouattara is widely expected to win a second term as the West African nation votes Sunday, five years after a disputed poll that spilled over into the worst violence the country has experienced since independence. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

Voters headed to polls Sunday in Côte d'Ivoire, hoping to put the past behind them as the West African nation holds its first presidential election since a disputed vote five years ago triggered violence in which more than 3,000 people died.

Dozens of voters lined up outside a school in Abidjan's Plateau district before the official 7 a.m. start time for the vote that incumbent President Alassane Ouattara is expected to win.

Voting started one hour late at the school but local election official Kassoume Toure said all materials had been received.

Associated Press report continues:

Ouolli Kone, a teacher and Ouattara supporter, was toward the front of the line at Notre Dame du Plateau middle school in Abidjan's central Plateau district.

"Voting is important to me because I want to choose my candidate so we can turn the page toward peace," he said. He said he was optimistic there would be no violence.

Election workers offload election material for storage and distribution at a holding area in an community center in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. Côte d'Ivoire’s president Alassane Ouattara is widely expected to win a second term as the West African nation votes Sunday, five years after a disputed poll that spilled over into the worst violence the country has experienced since independence. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

In 2010, Ouattara defeated incumbent Laurent Gbagbo who refused to concede, sparking the worst fighting the country has experienced since independence.

Kone said he supported Ouattara because under his leadership the teacher's salary had increased for the first time in 10 years, from 250,000 CFA (US$420) per month to 312,000 CFA (US$520) per month.

Ouattara has touted an economic rebound and security gains although opponents say he has failed to reconcile the country or alleviate poverty.

Voting was also delayed in many districts of the country's largest city, Abidjan, as poll workers rushed to organize materials. In the northern Abobo district, polling stations were still awaiting electronic tablets a couple hours after voting should have officially begun.