Tension, vigilance and celebration take center stage at Labadie’s committee president election | PHOTOS

LABADIE, Haiti — Residents dressed mostly in black crowded the entrance of Saint-Mary National School, their faces tense as they scrutinized everyone trying to enter. Standing shoulder to shoulder with hired security guards, they served as unofficial watchdogs during the 2025 Committee of Coordination of Labadie (CCL) presidential election.

Their goal was simple: prevent double voting and block nonresidents from casting ballots. When a man wearing a green shirt and braids approached the gate, accusations erupted.

“This man already voted,” one of the residents shouted.

Guards checked the man’s thumbs, which had been marked with black ink after voting. Though his fingers were dark, he claimed the stains came from cooking. The guards escorted him away as the crowd roared.

As it was on Sunday, Dec. 14, election day in Labadie is often turbulent — charged with anxiety, suspicion and, ultimately, joy. After hours of waiting, the electoral team announced that 46-year-old businessman Marc Santo had won the village’s coordination presidency with 1,005 votes, narrowly defeating Milscent Francklin, who received 927.

As word spread, residents poured into the streets, dancing, singing and embracing. The celebration marked the end of a tense day — and the beginning of new expectations for leadership in the isolated coastal village in northern Haiti. For many observers, what unfolded in Labadie over the weekend demonstrated that Haitians remain eager for participatory democracy when given the chance, and that local governance remains viable.

The images below capture the vigilance, tension and relief that shaped election day in Labadie.

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