Neon Lit Visitor Badges in Xining Polling Station

Blue and green neon light washes over a metal bowl resting on a laminate counter inside a gymnasium converted for voting in Xining. The bowl holds stacks of white plastic visitor badges, their edges catching the artificial glow. Behind the bowl, the high ceiling of the gymnasium disappears into shadow, while the polished floor reflects the overhead fixtures. A red exit sign glows faintly in the background, casting a thin line of crimson across the wall. The badges sit motionless, their paper tags flat against the plastic surface. One badge lies slightly askew at the rim, revealing the texture of the paper against the smooth metal bowl.