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Egyptians Vote in 2nd Phase of Parliamentary Elections

Edward Yeranian

   CAIRO - Egyptbeganthe second phase of elections for its lower chamber
   of parliament Saturday in 13 of the country's 27 provinces. A runoff
   election will be held in several weeks to determine the final winners.
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   Egyptian media showed voters turning out Saturday morning to cast their
   ballots at polling stations in half of the country that didn't vote
   during an earlier round last month. Music blared as poll workers
   welcomed voters to cast ballots inIsmailiya, amid strict security and
   COVID-19 health precautions.
   Egyptian state TV showed President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi casting his
   ballot at a polling station in a Cairo suburb not far from the
   presidential palace. The president urged Egyptians to "perform their
   civic duty and vote." Egyptian security forces were out in force to
   make sure voting went smoothly.

   Lasheen Ibrahim, head of Egypt's National Electoral Commission, told
   journalists the judiciary was overseeing voting in the 9,468 polling
   stations openSaturdayduring the second phase of parliamentary
   elections. Polling stations, he added, "are being sterilized to prevent
   the spread of COVID-19".
   He says the electoral commission contracted with outside parties to
   sterilize polling stations at the outset of voting on both Saturday and
   Sunday,and at the close of voting, both days.

   President Sissi's "Future of the Nation" party put in the strongest
   showing in the first phase of voting several weeks ago. Egypt's
   semi-officialAh Ahramnewspaperreported that voter turnout was 28.06
   percent of nearly 31 million eligible voters in the first round.

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