Jerome Delay / AP

A Kenyan woman walks through the African Inland Church in the Kibera Slum of Nairobi, Kenya, on March 10, one day after Uhuru Kenyatta was declared winner in the Kenyan presidential elections.

One morning in January 2008, more than 200 young men armed with crude weapons stormed the Africa Inland Church in the Kibera Slum of Nairobi, Kenya, and seized a generator that they then set on fire. The explosion tore through the roof, creating one of the most visible scenes of post-election violence after Kenya's disputed election of 2007. 

The dark spot is a constant reminder of the church's vulnerability during national elections. But for Rev. Joshua Kimuyu there was no question of keeping its doors shut this Sunday, the day after Kenya's election commission announced the winner of the East African country's fiercely contested presidential election. This time, Kimuyu said, there was nothing to fear after the two leading candidates -winner Uhuru Kenyatta and loser Raila Odinga -pleaded for calm and unity. Continue reading.

--The Associated Press

Slideshow: Kenyans vote in crucial election

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Five years after more than 1,200 people were killed in election-related violence, Kenyans went to the polls in a nationwide election seen as the most important in the country's 50-year history since independence.

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Previously on PhotoBlog:

• 'Spoiled' ballots could be critical as Kenya anxiously awaits election results
• Kenya braces for elections, Odinga supporters rally

Rebecca Blackwell / AP

A woman walks past campaign posters for incumbent President Ernest Bai Koroma in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Nov. 15, 2012. Ten years after the end of a devastating civil war, Sierra Leone will go to the polls on Saturday to choose between incumbent Koroma and opposition leader Julius Maada Bio.

Rebecca Blackwell / AP

A Sierra Leone People's Party supporter wears glasses made of wire and reeds in the shape of the party's initials at the final campaign rally for candidate Julius Maada Bio, in Freetown, Nov. 15.

TILORMA, Sierra Leone (Reuters) — When the European Union's chief election observer Richard Howitt asked people in this remote village last month if they had concerns about Sierra Leone's looming presidential poll, he got a sobering response: what is voting?

The question from one of the villagers in the gold and diamond mining district of Kenema underscored the challenges facing this West African country ahead of Saturday's elections, which will become the latest test of democracy in a region notorious for flawed polls, civil wars, and coups.

Incumbent President Ernest Bai Koroma, a former insurance executive who came to power in 2007 in elections generally considered free and fair, will face off against former junta leader Julius Maada Bio. Full story…

See more images related to Sierra Leone on PhotoBlog

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Rebecca Blackwell / AP

Opposition candidate Julius Maada Bio waves to supporters as his campaign convoy drives through the Kissy neighborhood, en route to his final campaign rally in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Nov. 15.

Rebecca Blackwell / AP

Supporters of opposition candidate Julius Maada Bio fill the street as his campaign convoy drives through the Kissy neighborhood, en route to Bio's final campaign rally in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Nov. 15. A few supporters displayed symbolic, or real, guns to symbolize the laying down of arms in favor of a non-violent election process.

Joe Penney / Reuters

A military police officer stands guard at the final campaign rally for Sierra Leone opposition presidential candidate Julius Maada Bio in downtown Freetown, Nov. 15. Incumbent President Ernest Bai Koroma, a former insurance executive who came to power in 2007 in elections generally considered free and fair, will face off against former junta leader Bio.

Rebecca Blackwell / AP

A supporter of opposition candidate Julius Maada Bio rests on a stadium field as he waits for Bio to arrive at his final campaign rally in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Nov. 15.

Readers across the country are sharing their Election Day with us by sending photos of themselves voting, their polling stations, and what's important to them during this special day.

It's easy to participate, just post your pictures on Twitter, Instagram and tag them #nbcpolitics, or upload your photos using the form at the bottom of this article. Please use the caption or tweet to tell us a little about the photo. We'll update this photo gallery throughout the day, so come back and see if we've selected your picture.

Click the images below to see them larger, and read their captions.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Photos selected by NBCNews.com, but captions and images are unedited

Submit your photos below, or tag images #nbcpolitics on Instagram or Twitter.

Related Links

• See reader photos in a state-by-state breakdown
• See reader images from before elction day
• Follow NBC News on Instagram
• Follow @NBCNewsPictures on Twitter

Slideshow: Election 2012

Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA

Campaigning with Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, voting and election results.

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NBC News

Share your Election Day photos with us, by tagging pictures #nbcpolitics on Instagram or Twitter.

Election Day is upon us and we want you to help us tell the story of this important day. Share photos of you voting, your polling station, what’s important to you, or anything else that best sums up this American experience.

UPDATE: See reader photos from Election Day posted Nov. 6.

How do you participate?

Post pictures on Twitter, Instagram and tag them #nbcpolitics, or upload your photos using the form below. Please use the caption or tweet to tell us a little about the photo.

See what readers have already submitted

Readers have already shared photos of early voting. Click the images below to see them larger, and read their captions.

NOTE: Photos selected by NBCNews.com, but captions and images are unedited.

Related Links

• See reader photos in a state-by-state breakdown
• Follow NBC News on Instagram
• Follow @NBCNewsPictures on Twitter

Slideshow: On the campaign trail

Reuters, Getty Images

In the final push in the 2012 presidential election, candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama make their last appeals to voters.

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Ricardo Moraes / Reuters

A student walks past a Brazilian Army tank during a patrol of the Muquico slum in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 1. Brazilian soldiers and marines started a patrol in Rio de Janeiro slums to guarantee "democratic freedom" and allow candidates to campaign for the upcoming Oct. 7 elections for the mayor and city council.

Silvia Izquierdo / AP

An Electoral Tribune worker removes illegal campaign banners while a Brazilian soldier patrols the Fogo Cruzado slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 1. Brazil's Defense Ministry says troops will be used to ensure peaceful voting and campaigning in Rio de Janeiro ahead of next week's municipal elections. Voters in 5,565 cities and towns across Latin America's biggest country will elect mayors and municipal councilmen on Oct. 7.

Silvia Izquierdo / AP

A child lounges on a bench next to a campaign banner at the Fogo Cruzado slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 1.

View more photos from Brazil on PhotoBlog.

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Slideshow: On the campaign trail

Reuters, Getty Images

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The first of three presidential debates occurs Wednesday and many voters will use these events to educate themselves on the candidates. We want to take this the opportunity to hear what it would take to change your mind from an undecided voter to a Romney or Obama supporter.

How do you participate?

1. Take a picture of yourself, or a photo representing the issue that is most important to you.
2. In the caption (or a tweet), tell us what you want to hear from the candidates. Keep your responses short.
3. Tag your photo #NBCNewsPics in Instagram or Twitter.
4. Or upload your photo in the box below.

On Wednesday we’ll publish a selection of your photos and responses in PhotoBlog, so stay tuned. 

Related Links:

• Inside the Boiler Room: Debate expectation
• Debate will be Romney's chance to alter trajectory of the race
• Christie predicts Romney debate performance will change course of presidential race
• First Thoughts: After nine battleground polls
• Complete election coverage on NBCPolitics.com

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Residents wait in line to pick up a ballot during early voting at the Black Hawk County Courthouse on Sept. 27 in Waterloo, Iowa. Early voting starts today in Iowa where in the 2008 election 36 percent of voters cast an early ballot.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Mark Cooper, of Des Moines, Iowa, places his ballot in the box during the first day of early voting for the November election, Sept. 27, at the Polk County Election Office in Des Moines, Iowa.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

A sample ballot hangs on the wall during early voting at the Black Hawk County Courthouse on Sept. 27 in Waterloo, Iowa.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

A voter fills out his ballot during the first day of early voting for the November election at the Polk County Election Office in Des Moines, Iowa on Sept. 27.

Iowans on Thursday began voting in person at early voting sites and returning absentee ballots they requested by mail or in person. Iowa is one of 32 states that allow early voting, and any registered voter in Iowa is allowed to fill out and submit a ballot before the Nov. 6 election.

• Complete election coverage at NBCPolitics.com
• Obama ahead of Romney in Iowa polls as vote starts

Slideshow: On the campaign trail

Reuters, Getty Images

In the final push in the 2012 presidential election, candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama make their last appeals to voters.

Launch slideshow

John Moore / Getty Images

Egyptians argue political issues in front of an anti-government mural a day before presidential elections on May 22, in Cairo, Egypt. Egyptians go to the polls Wednesday and Thursday to choose a new president, the first of the post-Mubarak era. If no candidate wins a majority vote this week, a second round election will be held between the top two candidates on June 16-17.

John Moore / Getty Images

A pedestrian walks past an Egyptian army convoy patrolling the streets a day before presidential elections on May 22, in Cairo, Egypt. Egyptians go to the polls Wednesday and Thursday to choose a new president, the first of the post-Mubarak era. If no candidate wins a majority vote this week, a second round election will be held between the top two candidates June 16-17.

Mohammed Salem / Reuters

An Egyptian worker checks boxes containing ballots a day before the presidential election in Cairo on May 22. The election that starts on Wednesday is the last stage in a messy transition to democracy, overseen by generals who took control after Hosni Mubarak was driven out and have pledged to hand power to a new president by July 1.

Marco Longari / AFP - Getty Images

An Egyptian army officer gestures as he and colleague ride in a vehicle with a megaphone to call Egyptians to vote, in central Cairo's Tahrir Square on May 22, one day before the country's landmark presidential elections.

AFP PHOTO/MARCO LONGARIMARCO LONGARI/AFP/GettyImages

From Reuters: CAIRO - Egypt holds its first genuinely contested presidential election this week, but Amr Adel believes nothing will really change as long as the military keeps an overt or covert grip on power.

Adel, 23, is one of the mostly middle-class, secular-minded young people who galvanized last year's demonstrations that in just 18 days snuffed out President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.

Like many of them, he feels the struggle is unfinished.

"Any president who comes with Egypt's military dictatorship still in place means nothing. We have been living for decades in an oppressive police state and I don't see that this is changing. We need to keep spreading awareness," he says, sitting in a Cairo cafe surrounded by a pile of university books. Click here to continue reading this story.

Related link:

• Egypt's elections: A struggle between secularism and political Islam
  
• Follow msnbc_pictures on Twitter

Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP - Getty Images

One of the detained, Other Russia movement activists who tried to hold an unsanctioned protest outside the central election commission, shouts from a police bus in central Moscow, on March 5.

Tatyana Makeyeva / Reuters

Police detain a participant during an opposition protest in Moscow, March 5. Russian police detained at least 100 people during protests calling on Vladimir Putin to resign after a presidential election they say was unfairly skewed in his favor.

Alexander Demianchuk / Reuters

Russian police detain a participant during an opposition rally in St.Petersburg, March 5.

Reuters reports: Police detained at least 50 people at an unsanctioned rally of about 3,000 people in St Petersburg, witnesses said. Police said they had detained 50 in central Moscow but allowed a protest by thousands more people to go ahead nearby.

Previously on PhotoBlog: Moscovites square off following Putin's re-election.