LIANE HANSEN, Host:
NPR's Carrie Kahn reports from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
CARRIE JOHNSON: Former President Aristide's return raised concerns that he would disrupt today's election, but since arriving on Friday he hasn't said much.
(SOUNDBITE OF SCRUBBING)
JOHNSON: In front of his residence in a Port-au-Prince suburb, all is quiet except for a few men scrubbing muddy footprints off the concrete wall surrounding the compound.
GIL FITZ: (Foreign language spoken)
JOHNSON: Gil Fitz-Basil says they're cleaning the marks left behind by the hundreds who scaled the wall Friday, trying to get at glimpse at him. The twice-elected Aristide is still wildly popular among Haiti's poor and thousands turned out for his homecoming.
FITZ: (Foreign language spoken)
JOHNSON: Maxin Benoit says he wishes Aristide was on the ballot but he plans to cast his vote for Martelly.
MAXIN BENOIT: (Through Translator) We need a change in this country, with all the horrible things that have happened recently, we need someone new.
JOHNSON: While Michel Martelly may be a new comer to politics, he's a well-known Kompa music performer here.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG)
MICHEL MARTELLY: (Singing in foreign language)
JOHNSON: In recent weeks, the candidates' rhetoric and jabs have heated up, which worries Colin Granderson, who heads an election observation team of the Organization of American States.
COLIN GRANDERSON: I think that up until about two weeks ago, 10 days ago, we were relatively confident. We're starting to have doubts now.
JOHNSON: Granderson says as late as yesterday, some poll workers were still getting trained.
GRANDERSON: Too many things were left as of the last moment. And the things that are done at the last moment are done in a rush. They're not going to be done as effectively and as fully as they should have been done, and that obviously has, or can have a negative impact on the day.
JOHNSON: Even the return of Former President Aristide may not affect the vote. Aristide has remained holed up in his residence and has not made any endorsements in the race.
(SOUNDBITE OF A COLOMBE D'OR YOUTH CHOIR)
COLOMBE D: (Singing) Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
JOHNSON: At the former president's charitable foundation, the youth choir practices. Everyone here says they're going to vote.
PIERRE FRANCOIS DAVINS: If we want our country changed, we're going to vote that.
JOHNSON: Twenty-three-year old Pierre Francois Davins says the youth of Haiti will vote for change. They'll have to wait to find out who the winner will be. Election results won't be released until March 31st.
(SOUNDBITE OF COLOMBE D'OR YOUTH CHOIR)
JOHNSON: Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Port-au-Prince. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.