CAIRO – 28 March 2018: The voting process in Egypt in 2005 seems completely different from that of the 2018 presidential election.
In 2005, in order to obtain a voting card citizens had to take many steps. Those wishing to vote had to submit a request to the police station, along with an ID card, birth certificate and personal photo. Within one or two month and after verifying his/her identity, citizens would receive their voting card.
Any citizen who did not have a voting card was obliged to go to the police station and register his or her name, along with the candidate they wished to elect.
According to the conditions written on the back of the card, those who did not vote, impersonated another voter, or cast their vote more than once, were to be punished with a fine and a prison sentence.
Of course, all these steps made Egyptians afraid to obtain voting cards to cast their votes in 2005, especially since the then-government was a regular violator of freedom of speech and punished anyone who was brave enough to say their opinion freely and democratically.
Also, in 2005, the government did not allow international observers to enter and monitor the elections, contrary to what is happening now. According to the presidential election commission in 2005, the participation rate in the vote was only 23 percent; a very weak percentage.
In comparison, in 2018, according to the National Election Authorities (NEA), any Egyptian citizen who is over the age of 18 can cast his or her vote easily. After finding his/her polling state through the official website of the NEA, or through texting their official number or calling a designated phone number. Once he/she enters the polling station, the voter submits their ID card to the observer and casts their vote without any complications. In case of any issues, the NEA has designated a 24-hour help and complains line for voters.
You are also able to change the location and seat of the polling station if you live in an area or county that is not registered on your national ID card.
During its modern history, Egypt has witnessed three elections and is now witnessing its fourth; the first time was in 2005 and then came the 2012 election, the 2014 election and the current, 2018, election.
The presidential election in 2005, held on September 7, was the first presidential election to be held since 1952. The 2005 presidential election included the former president Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, Ayman Nour, then-head of the al-Ghad party and Noman Gomaa, then-head of the Wafd party.
FILE: Former president Hosni Moubark in 2005
The 2012 presidential election included ousted president Mohamed Morsi, Ahmed Shafik and Hamdeen Sabahi.
The 2014 election included current President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Hamdeen Sabahi; President Sisi won with a landslide. The election, according to officials, saw a reasonable turnout of 47.5 percent.
The 2018 election, which is currently ongoing, is seeing current President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi run against Moussa Mustafa Moussa. About 60 million Egyptians are eligible to vote in the ongoing polls to elect the country’s next president.
The 2018 presidential election began on Monday, and will continue until Wednesday. Thus far, there has been a huge turnout with the opening of polling stations on Monday morning, and queues of voters have extended in front of polling stations for long distances amid the joy and happiness of citizens.
The National Election Authority conference announces the 2018 presidential election timeline - Egypt Today/Amr Moustafa
Voting is conducted over three days, and began on Monday. The final day of voting is Wednesday, March 28. Polls will be open over a 12-hour period, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
According to the national authority, the presidential election will be supervised by 18,620 judges, including 8,420 regular judges, 4,800 administrative prosecutors, 3,300 judges from the State Lawsuits Authority and 2,100 judges from the State Council.
A number of regional and international organizations will participate in observing the presidential election nationwide. These organizations include: the Arab League, African Union, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly and COMESA-CENSAD.
The primary results of the first round of the election will be announced on March 29, where decisions on appeals submitted by candidates, if any, will be made.
The final results of the first round will be announced on April 2.
If there is a need to hold a run-off round, Egyptian expats will cast their votes again on April 19 and 21 and voters living at home will cast their votes between April 24 and 26.
The final 2018 presidential election results are expected to be announced on May 1, if a run-off round is needed.
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