Voter confidence in elections - the perception that votes are counted fairly and results are trustworthy - is a core tenet of democratic life. This is especially true in low-income democracies, where concerns about malpractice are heightened and electoral commissions less-resourced. But while there has been significant scholarly focus on ways to reduce objective election irregularities, we know less about voters’ faith that results are genuine and accurate. In this study we focus on an under appreciated determinant of voter confidence: the ways in which polling stations are organised and arranged on election day. Leveraging a conjoint choice experiment in Malawi, we find that voters prioritise the capacity and autonomy of polling station staff, including their training and compliance with transparency measures, and the presence of third-party actors, such as election monitors and security personnel. Contrary to theories of ethnic or partisan bias, we find that voters prefer representatives from all parties to be present in the station, while co-ethnicity or co-partisanship with the presiding officer has only limited effects on trust. These findings contribute to ongoing policy debates for election administration in low-income democracies, and to the literature on electoral integrity, public opinion, and democratic development.