President Sisi and Moussa Moustafa are the official candidates for the 2018 presidential election
CAIRO – 27 March 2018: Egyptians continue to cast their votes on the second day of the 2018 presidential election, amid several calls by officials and media professionals to encourage more people to go to the polls and practice their rights.
More than 13,500 polling stations have opened for about 60 million eligible voters to cast their ballots for three consecutive days. Voting started on Monday.
Spokesman of the National Election Authority, Mahmoud al-Sherif, stressed that it is too early to identify the numbers of voters; however, he stated that the first day had witnessed a high turnout across Egypt.
Media figures, officials and actors have all called on Egyptians to take part in the election as it is a national duty. Many of them went on to highlight that even if people disagree with the country’s current situation, they should exceed their personal grievance for the country’s interest.
“Even if any person disagrees with the current regime or the country’s situation, he should exceed that and participate in the election for the country’s interest,” stressed T.V. host Amr Adib during his program on ON E channel on Monday.
Amr Adib - File Photo
On Sunday, T.V. Host Lamees el Hadidy remarked that Egyptians should cast their votes to support Egypt while fighting terrorism.
T.V. host Ahmed Moussa stressed on Sunday during his program “On my Responsibility” that it is important to see a high turnout in the election, as Egypt’s enemies bet on low rates of participation.
Egyptian singer, Hakim, launched an election march in 6th October streets to urge Egyptians to get out to the polls and vote-Official Facebook page
Meanwhile, Egyptian actors such as Samira Ahmed and Mohamed Henedi cast their votes on Monday, stressing that they are participating in the election asit is considered a national duty. Egyptian singer, Hakim, launched an election march in 6th October streets to urge Egyptians to get out to the polls and vote.
Pope Tawadros II and Grand Imam of Al Azhar,Sheikh Ahmad al Tayeb,also cast their ballots, encouraging all Egyptians to follow suit and vote.
Many officials, such as Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Speaker of the House of Representatives Ali Abdel Aal, called on Egyptians to crowd around the polling stations and vote.
In the same context, the governorates of Cairo, Alexandria, Giza and Qalyubia have seen the highest voter turnout on the first day of the presidential vote, according to the National Election Authority. The authority added that the governorates of the Red Sea, the New Valley, Mersa Matruh and South Sinai experienced the lowest voter turnout.
However, polling stations in North Sinai’s Beir el-Abd and Arish cities also recorded a large turnoutfor the presidential election on Monday, according tothe Cabinet’s operation room.
A number of North Sinai residents at a polling station in Sheikh Zuwaid/Egypt Today
These two North Sinai cities have witnessed long lines of people coming out to vote as compared to the number of registered voters across different cities.
On the first day, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, First Lady Entissar al-Sisi, and Prime Minister Sherif Ismail,cast their votes at the Mostafa Yousri Abou Emeira School in Heliopolis, Cairo. Contender Moussa Mostafa Moussa cast his vote at Noubar Modern School in Abdeen, Cairo.
President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi cast his vote in the presidential election on Monday at Mostafa Youssri Abou Emeira School in Heliopolis- press photo
President Sisi received updates on the electoral process from the campaign operations room on Monday.
Meanwhile, the National Authority for Human Rights issued its first statement, on the first day of the presidential election, stressing that it follows up the election process through a central room, in addition to a range of operation rooms across the governorates. It also sent civil missions, which include members of the authority and the General Secretariat in Great Cairo, to follow the election. This is conducted in accordance with a permit granted by the National Election Authority, which permits the human rights authority to visit some governorates in Upper and Lower Egypt.
According to the authority’s head counselor, Lashin Ibrahim, the National Election Authority has not received any complaints since the beginning of the vote.
Joy and dancing overwhelmed the Egyptian streets on the first day of the 2018 presidential election.
Many national songs such as Hakim’s “Abu el-Rugula”, translated to “father of manhood”, and “A’alo Eh”, translated to "what did they say?" have been sung by Egyptians in a revival of the patriotic spirit, all while showing inked fingers outside polling stations. Egyptians living in Upper Egypt celebrated using the rababa, a traditional musical instrument.
Many women flocked to the polling stations across different governorates, raising flags, ululating and dancing to national songs-Press Photo
For those working full-time but wanting to vote, the polls are open for 12 hours on all of the three voting days, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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