CAIRO: As voters lined up to cast their votes, some political parties continued campaigning in some central Cairo constituencies hoping to sway the unexpectedly high voter turnout.
At three different polling stations in Azbakiya, voters complained that political party representatives were campaigning inside the stations.
“A man came inside and urged us to vote for the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) even though the judge was present,” Ahmed Fathy told Daily News Egypt.
Some voters claimed that candidates were buying votes on the eve of the elections but DNE could not independently verify this claim.
In front of the Coptic School polling stations, two women complained that an FJP flyer listing the candidates’ names was left on a table, which they believed was illegal given that there were no other rivaling lists.
Near Abou Farag polling station volunteers were seen distributing the flyers of the non-Islamist Egyptian Bloc.
Ayman Taha, a candidate in this constituency, denied that his campaigners were distributing these flyers even though copies of them were given to this DNE reporter.
In other districts, like Qasr El-Nil, different political parties and individual candidates were giving away calendars and distributing flyers to voters waiting outside.
Despite the fact that campaigning should have officially ended two days ago, some candidates used cars with megaphones to roam their constituencies on election day.
In front of Azbakiya’s Mostafa Kamel women’s polling station, a truck played music praising candidate Khaled Bardony, as tens of women queued to get in.
According to FJP candidate Amr Khedr and other voters, the presiding judge of station number 65/66 was intentionally slowing down the process, keeping voters waiting for more than five hours.
An eyewitness said that at around noon, two men entered the station and remained inside for one hour, during which time voters prevented from getting in. She added that after the men left, the judge closed the room for another 15 minutes.
“What exactly was the judge doing? This is forgery. There was even a broken ballot box that he should have given to the police but he left it there. Why?” shouted Om Reda.
According to voters, the judge did not follow regulations by denying young ushers from accompanying the elderly to help them vote incase they cannot see clearly.
Khedr said that this is not the first violation committed in his constituency, claiming that while he was supposed to be number 63 on the list, he discovered that his rank shifted to 62.
“Some people don’t read the name, they just choose the number,” he said.
Other voters reported unstamped ballots in Zamalek’s Al-Qawmeya School and the Faculty of Arts as well as a delay in the voting process, said Khedr.
Earlier in the day, four polling stations in Daher remained closed until midday. But later in the day, observers reported that at College de la Salle in Daher, the judge left and so the polling rooms were closed down.
Yet despite some reported violations, voters of all ages were enthusiastic even though they waited for hours. Many hailed the armed forces for their role securing the elections.
“As long as the armed forces are ruling, we are safe,” said Sayed Eid in Boulak.
Polling stations in Central Cairo were guarded with at least 10 army soldiers each, especially the ones surrounding the Ministry of Interior which witnessed a lower voter turnout possibly in light of the recent clashes in Tahrir.
“I always voted but this is the first time I vote without any pressure, with transparency without thugs over your head forcing you to vote for certain people, it is totally different,” said Mohamed Moselhy, 47.
He added that he voted for the FJP because they fear God. “And if they don’t deliver, if they try to stifle our freedom, then bye bye.”
Samy El-Sayed, 60, said that he always voted for the dismantled National Democratic Party but now “God has helped Egyptians to get rid of them.”
El-Sayed added that he chose the FJP to test their ability when they are not under pressure.
A 63-year-old Zamalek resident said that this is her first time to vote.
“I voted for the love of Egypt,” she said.
