Egypt’s overseas voting begins for 2nd phase of House election

CAIRO – 20 November 2025: Executive Director of the National Election Authority (NEA) Ahmed Bendary announced on Thursday the start of overseas voting in the second phase of the House of Representatives election, with New Zealand being the first country to open polls at 09:00 local time.

Speaking at a press conference from the NEA’s central operations room, Bendary said voting will run from 09:00 to 21:00 local time in each country across 139 polling stations located inside Egyptian embassies and consulates in 117 countries.

He noted that every Egyptian residing abroad, or temporarily outside the country on the designated voting days, may cast their ballot at the polling station in their host country, provided they are registered on the voters’ database and their electoral domicile falls within the 13 governorates participating in this phase.

Bendary held a video call with Egypt’s Ambassador to New Zealand George Azer, who confirmed that voting started on schedule and that the mission was fully prepared to receive voters.

He added that members of the diplomatic mission whose electoral domicile lies within the governorates of the second phase had already begun casting their ballots.

Bendary also held a video call with Deputy Foreign Minister Nabil Habashi, who praised the high level of cooperation and coordination between NEA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the electoral process reflects Egypt’s standing.

Habashi said all arrangements for receiving overseas voters are proceeding smoothly.

The second phase includes 13 governorates: Cairo, Qalyubia, Dakahlia, Menoufia, Gharbia, Kafr El Sheikh, Sharqia, Damietta, Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, North Sinai and South Sinai.

A total of 34.611 million citizens are eligible to vote in this phase, with 1,316 candidates contesting 141 individual seats, in addition to one closed-list constituency across two sectors.

Heads of Egyptian diplomatic missions abroad, ambassadors and consuls, are directly supervising the voting process under the NEA’s oversight.