In pictures: Palestinian polling day

Eventually the polls close and counting begins. Votes are counted in the four classrooms where they were cast. Sorting and counting are left to the five officials who supervised the vote in each room, under the watchful eyes of candidates' representatives.

In this room, Hall 1 of the Friends School polling centre, there have been about 400 votes from a possible 700. Each voting slip is checked by all present before it is counted.