Polling centres were opened to voters in the final phase of the Peoples' Assembly elections. The third phase will be held in nine governorates, namely Dakahliya, Minya, Qaliubiya, Gharbiya, Qena, New Valley, Matrouh, North Sinai and South Sinai.
So far it seemed voting is going quietly with low turnout of voters. No violations were reported to date.
The following is what we received from our correspondents.
Miniya
- A high turnout of women to vote in the early hours in the southern constituencies, particularity in Abu Qurqas and Malawi counties.
- Electoral propaganda continues in front of polling centres.
- Some supporters of independent candidates are giving "the New Year's calendars" to voters in front of polling centres.
- Women wearing niqab are directing voters in front of polling centres in the city of Miniya. This happened in front of the polling centres at the Religious School and voting centres at Abu Hilal neighbourhood.
- Small trucks with pictures of the independent candidates are touring the streets where polling centres are located, playing patriotic songs and calling voters to choose certain candidates.
- Candidates' supporters are stationed with laptops in front of polling centres, particularly supporters of Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) and "El-Nour" Party.
Matrouh
- Turnout is very low in the early hours of voting.
- Most of the polling centres were opened at exactly eight o'clock.
- There are no voters at all in a number of polling centres. This is the case at Abu Bakr El-Sedeiq voting centre in the city of Marsa Matrouh.
Gharbiya
- A number of polling centres did not open until now due to the late arrival of judges. This is the case at polling centres No. 25 and 26 at the Religious School, in Mahala Kobra, the polling centres of Mahalet Neseir Bactor, as well as Nawag School, Tanta County, Hiset Shibsheir, family health clinic at Mahabit Neseir and El-Shaheid Ghanem.
- Other polling centres were opened later than scheduled due to the late arrival of candidates' representatives.
- Demand is very low, in particular in rural polling centres.
- Candidates' supporters are stationed with laptops in front of polling centres, particularly supporters of FJP and "El-Nour" Party.
- Taxis and minibuses are used to transport voters to the polling centres.
- Women with niqab are used to influence female voters.
North Sinai
- Demand is less than yesterday, particularly in Nagilat Om Oqba area of Bir Abed, Rommana and Baloza in Arish.
- There was a Brawl between supporters of a candidate on Freedom Party's list and supporters of FJP, as they objected the breach of electoral silence by FJP in Abu Bakr El-Sedeiq School in Arish.
South Sinai
- Turnout is very low in most of the governorate's polling centres in the early hours.
- There were no voters at all in a number of polling centres until half past nine.
- A number of ballot boxes were opened after being sealed yesterday at Taha Hussein Preparatory School due to the late arrival of candidates' representatives.
New Valley
- A very high turnout of women in the early hours of voting, according to the Egyptian television.
- Egyptian television "Demand is higher than yesterday."
- Increasing number of minibuses, microbuses and taxis with photos of "El-Nour" Party and the Egyptian Bloc's candidates to transport voters from residential areas to polling centres according to "Al-Ahram" newpaper.
- "Al-Ahram" newspaper "Computers in places close to the polling centres to help voters finding their numbers in the electoral rolls".
