Egyptian citizens in governorates across the nation headed to polling stations on Tuesday for the second day of voting in Egypt’s 2018 presidential election. Egyptian are choosing between two presidential candidates: sitting President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and the head of El-Ghad Party Moussa Mostafa Moussa.
In Daqahleya governorate, in northern Egypt, polling stations witnessed limited to moderate turnout on the second day of voting, reportedly less than the first day. Most voters at polling stations were elderly citizens and women, according to Mansoura-based journalist Noaman Samir. He also pointed out that a lot of people, particularly women, were dancing to nationalist songs, celebrating outside polling stations.
Mansoura, the capital city of Daqahleya, was among the cities with the most support for Al-Sisi in his first term. The city had witnessed several demonstrations and considerable rebellion during the 30 June demonstrations in 2013 against Islamist former president Mohamed Morsi.
Mohamed Awad, a journalist based in Ismailia governorate on the Suez Canal, told Daily News Egypt that the governorate witnessed limited turnout in most of its districts. Awad added that the operations room of the governorate announced that 62,000 of 833,000 people registered to vote cast their ballots on the first day of the election, most of whom were senior citizens.
He also noted the absence of younger generations at polling stations, in addition to the notable presence of members of Al-Nour, the Salafist party. According to Awad, the turnout was higher in the east of Al-Qantara, and particularly the second district there, following working hours.
Journalist Heba Shaaban, who is based in Alexandria, said that the Mediterranean city witnessed limited to moderate turnout on the second day of voting. She stressed that, like other governorates, the elderly and women were the most prominent voters, while the younger generations were significantly absent at polling stations.
A different scene dominated Fayoum governorate, where turnout saw higher levels than the first day, according to Fayoum-based journalist Eman Abdellatif.
Abdellatif added that most voters were elderly and, notably, disabled citizens.
According to the journalist, the districts of Senoras, Abshway, and the rural areas surrounding the city of Fayoum witnessed the highest turnout in the governorate.
In Qena governorate in Upper Egypt, the first day of voting witnessed high turnout and crowding outside polling stations, particularly in rural areas rather than urban centres, according to a journalist based in Qena who asked not to be named.
He told DNE that most voters were elderly citizens and women, especially in the rural regions of Dishna and Nagaa Hammadi. He added that no violations were recorded during the electoral process and all polling stations opened at their set time, 9:00 am.
The journalist said that two brides in Farshout and Al-Waqf districts were keen to cast their ballots on the second day of voting.
