Voters Check Names at Biskra Polling Station

Flat municipal daylight fills the gymnasium, illuminating the rough texture of stone walls and the bold signage posted near the entrance. A voter stands at a long wooden desk, leaning forward to scan a paper roll of names while a poll worker stands beside them. The humid air after rain hangs heavy, visible as a slight haze near the high windows and a sheen on the polished concrete floor. The paper roll, thick and unrolled, rests on the desk surface, its black text stark against the white background. Shadows fall softly across the wooden grain, defining the edges of the chairs and the weight of the crowd. The voter's hand grips the edge of the desk, fingers pressing into the worn wood near the corner.