Haiti’s repeatedly derailed presidential election went relatively smoothly Sunday as the nation tried to get its shaky democracy on a sturdier track after nearly a year of being led by a provisional government.

Voter turnout appeared paltry in much of southwest Haiti, which was ravaged by Hurricane Matthew last month and was hit by rains Sunday. But in the crowded capital of Port-au-Prince and most other areas, balloting appeared to be going generally without a hitch even though some polling centers opened after the 6 a.m. scheduled start.

“I will wait as long as I need to,” said Alain Joseph, a motorcycle taxi driver and father of four who wore a bright pink sweatshirt to show his loyalty to the Tet Kale party of ex-President Michel Martelly. Pink is the faction’s color.

Police reported isolated incidents of voter intimidation and disruptions, including an attempt to torch a voting center in the northern town of Port Margot. Across a country of more than 10 million people, there were 18 arrests by early afternoon.

Leopold Berlanger, president of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council, told reporters that authorities were “satisfied” with how election day was progressing even though balloting could not take place in two isolated districts. He also said some people complained they couldn’t find their names on voter lists.

The Caribbean nation’s roughly 6 million registered voters did not lack for choice: 27 presidential candidates were on the ballot. The top two finishers will meet in a Jan. 29 runoff unless one candidate somehow manages to win more than 50 percent of the votes.

No results are scheduled to be released for at least eight days.

Voters also picked a third of the Senate and the 25 remaining members of the Chamber of Deputies.

Results of an October 2015 vote were annulled this year after a special commission reported finding what appeared to be significant fraud and misconduct.

Haiti has had an anemic caretaker government for nearly a year, and a new elected president will face a slew of challenges.

With the depreciation of the currency, the gourde, the cost of living has risen sharply. Haiti is deeply in debt and public coffers are largely depleted. The southwest is in a shambles from the hurricane, and parts of the north have been battered by recent floods.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the hemisphere.