South Sinai citizens cast ballots among heavy security presence

CAIRO - 28 March 2018: Citizens of South Sinai governorate were keen on going to polling stations on Wednesday to cast their ballot in the 3rd day of 2018 presidential election.

According to undersecretary of education ministry, the polling process went smoothly under strict security presence to secure citizens from any potential terrorist attack.

South Sinai is a peaceful part of Sinai Peninsula known for its amazing beaches and resorts, unlike the north part of the peninsula; however, security forces are intensifying their presence to prevent infiltration of insurgents from north to south.


Citizens of South Sinai governorate are casting their ballot in the 3rd day of 2018 presidential election on March 28, 2018 - Press photo

Rawda Village, whose main mosque was attacked by terrorists last November and 311 civilians were killed, voters went to Al-Jarir School to cast their ballots. Many of the voters were widows and the mothers of the victims.

Citizens of South Sinai governorate are casting their ballot in the 3rd day of 2018 presidential election on March 28, 2018 - Press photo

The Ministry of Education’s branch in el-Tor town of South Sinai transported its staff in buses to polling stations to cast their votes. Afterwards, the staff took to streets to encourage locals to vote.

The turnout at has been steady with lines of tens of people waited outside polling stations to cast their votes.

In Central Sinai, which belongs to North Sinai administratively, the turnout has been significant since the morning. Members of the tribes Ahiawat, Huwaitat, Nakhalwa, Azazma, and Tiyaha voted at two polling stations at the town of Nakhl.

Members of the tribe of Riyashat walked for long distances from their village “Abu Tawila” to cast their ballots in their designated polling stations in Kawthar district in Sheikh Zuwayed city.

Yehia al-Abbadi Abu Riyash, a member of the Riyashat tribe, said he took he walked with his family from Abu Tawila, to Abu Zarei, Qawasma then Kawthar district. He waited in a line of voters then walked back home.

Chief of Staff Mohamed Farid Hegazy visited a number of polling stations in Ismailia, a Suez Canal governorate, to check on security procedures. He visited Mohamed Hassanein and Fatima al-Zahraa schools, and locals greeted him with “long live Egypt” chants.

Commander of the Air Defense Forces Ali Fahmy also visited polling stations in Aswan, south of Egypt, to make sure the electoral procedures are running smoothly.

In Giza, the commandant of the governorate General Mostafa Essam visited polling stations in Haram Street.

Number of citizens with the right to vote in South Sinai is 101,742 voters, they casted their ballots in 18 polling stations.