stations across the capital of Freetown today," Gale said. "Some are quiet and very peaceful, others are very unorganized with a lot of pushing and shouting."

But so far there has been no significant violence — which had been a concern. Pregnant women and mothers with infants were being ushered to the front of long voting lines, helping alleviate concerns about intimidation against female participation in the democratic process.

Voters are choosing a president, parliamentarians, municipal councillors and mayors in Sierra Leone's third elections since it's horrific, 11-year civil war ended in 2002. It's the first time the country is running the election on its own; the last two were managed by the United Nations.

The country's electoral commission made strong efforts to get out young voters, who make up aefforts have been made to help women get out to vote, female candidates running for parliament still face major hurdles. Only 38 women are running for a seat compared with 538 men, and the campaign trail has seen sometimes nasty attempts to intimidate some female candidates.

Most of the country's nearly six million people live on less than $1.25 a day, according to World Bank statistics, and life remains especially difficult for the estimated 2,000 people who were seriously maimed during the war.