Egyptian expats to start voting in country’s parliamentary elections

Embassy staff sort ballots to give to citizens during voting for Egypt's parliamentary elections at the Egyptian embassy October 18, 2015 in Washington, DC. (File/AFP)

• About 140 polling stations in the state’s embassies and consulates in 124 countries are available for Egyptians abroad to vote
• A total of 568 seats are up for grabs in the elections, with an additional of 28 seats chosen by the president, bringing the total to 596

DUBAI: Egyptian expats will begin voting in the first phase of the country’s parliamentary elections, which starts Wednesday and runs until Friday, local daily Ahram Online reported.
Approximately 140 polling stations in the state’s embassies and consulates in 124 countries are available for Egyptians abroad to vote via mail-in voting, the National Election Authority (NEA) said.
“Voters will select candidates from the individual list system depending on their electoral district, and others from the closed list system,” the report added.
Expats were requested to have their ballot papers printed on Monday and Tuesday by inserting their registration code on the NEA website.
The ballot papers must be submitted in envelopes with a voter declaration, photocopies of the voter’s national identification card or passport, and residency papers. The documents must be submitted through express mail to the electoral committee of their country’s diplomatic mission.
The first stage of the election – between Oct. 21 and Nov. 30 – covers 14 provinces including Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Giza, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya and Assiut.
Meanwhile, the first stage of election run-offs will be held from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23 for Egyptians abroad, and Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 at home with the final results declared on Nov. 30 at the latest, the report said.
A total of 568 seats are up for grabs in the elections, with an additional of 28 seats chosen by the president, bringing the total to 596.