Rules for poll monitors announced in Egypt

 

 Restrictive regulations governing the election monitors during Egypt’s parliamentary elections were released by the HEC.

The rules stipulated that monitors must not be affiliated with any political party or connected to any candidates in any way. The rules stated that monitors be given access to polling facilities, according to screening by election officials.

The regulations which are extremely limiting prohibit overseers from interfering and meddling with the work of polling station officials, directing comments or inquiries to election workers, engaging in conversations or surveys with voters, or partaking in campaigning for any specific candidate.

Related, the Egyptian embassy in Washington and the National Democratic Party Secretary General Safwat El-Sherif repeated Egypt’s rejection of international election monitors asserting that the local civil society organizations are qualified to undertake the task.