The domestic run-offs for the first phase of Egypt’s House of Representative started, on Monday, and will proceed for two days.
Polling stations opened to Egyptians inside the country, with the governorates taking part in the current voting including: Giza; Fayoum; Beni Suef; Minya; Assiut; Qena; Sohag; Luxor; Aswan; New Valley; Alexandria; Matrouh; and Beheira.
A total of 220 candidates are competing in these run-offs, to fill 110 seats in Egypt’s House of Representatives.
Giza’s Governor said that the heads of electoral committees have worked to ensure the maximum level of preparedness at polling stations. This has ensured that the appropriate security measures are in place, alongside the provision of lighting sources, water, ventilation, and decent waiting areas for the elderly and people with special needs. The measures have been taken to allow citizens looking to vote to do so in safety and with ease.
He directed for the continued sterilisation of polling stations, and to adhere to social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The governor’s directives also covered the provision of support for all aspects of the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the Operations Room monitoring the elections in Assiut governorate observed a high turnout among female voters, while male turnout was weak at many committees since the beginning of voting.
The Youth Coordination Operations Room for Parties and Politicians and the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) started monitoring and follow-up work on the run-offs early on Monday.
The results of the first round of voting in the elections, during which the turnout was 28.6%, were announced in early November. The vote is limited to candidates running under the individual candidacy system.
The second phase was conducted on 7 and 8 November at a total of 9,468 polling stations across 13 governorates.
In both stages, the electoral list led by Mostaqbal Watan Party secured an easy win of 284 seats reserved for four-party list districts, gaining half of the parliamentary seats.
The final results of Egypt’s House of Representatives elections will be formally announced by the National Elections Authority (NEA) on 14 December.
According to the NEA’s updated voter database, a total of 63 million Egyptians are eligible to cast their votes in the two phases of the parliamentary election.
