CAIRO: A total of 223 complaints were referred to the Egyptian High Elections Commission (HEC) over electioneering irregularities ahead of the start of parliamentary election process scheduled on Saturday, said the Local-International joint mission spokesperson Ayman Okeil Wednesday.
The HEC has referred three of the complaints to the Office of the Attorney General to open investigations into such irregularities, he told Happen in Egypt talk show on MBC Misr, noting that the turnout of the voters could be low as “there are some trends try to terrorizing to prompt support votes.”
He added that irregularities have been reported since early September, noting that the mission witnessed hundreds of other violations.
The mission, tasked to follow Egypt’s parliamentary elections, comprises 300 observers from local, regional and international organizations based in the 28 EU member states, U.S.A. and Middle East countries.
It will deploy 150 international observers to monitor the parliamentary election’s first phase that will start Sunday in 14 governorates, Okeil previously stated.
The Parliamentary elections will be carried out in two phases; the first stage for domestic Egyptians, due to be convened Sunday and Monday inside the country, will be in the 14 governorates of Giza, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Assyut, New Valley, Sohag, Qena , Luxor, Aswan, Red Sea, Alexandria, Beheira, and Marsa Matrouh. Meanwhile, the expats’ voting will be on Saturday and Sunday.
The second round will be from Nov. 22 and 23 and includes the governorates of Cairo, Qalubia, Dakahlia, Menoufia, Gharbia, Kafr El-Sheikh, al-Sharqia, Damietta, Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, North Sinai, and South Sinai.
Run-off elections of the first phase will be carried out Oct. 26 and 27 for expats and Oct. 27 and 28 inside Egypt. Meanwhile, run-offs in the second round will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 for expats, and Dec. 1 and 2 in Egypt.