NGO’s Report: Crackdowns and Blockage of Voters are the Titles of 3rd Round

NGO’s Report: Crackdowns and Blockage of Voters are the Titles of 3rd Round

By Yasser Hady
 
In its report, the Egyptian Association for Social Participation Rise detected the irregularities of the third round of the ongoing parliamentary polls. The most outstanding contraventions were the prevention of voters, crackdowns of opposition supporters, and outdated electoral registers.
 
In el-Sharqia governorate, some polling centers started late. Some supervisory judges delayed. A number of Muslim Brotherhood’s members were detained.
 
In polling stations no 135,136,137,138, and139, monitors were excluded. Electoral registers were incomplete and outdated; they contained some names of dead people.
 
In Bandar Faqos and el-Hagagia villages, Vaseline was distributed to be used to remove the phosphoric ink, so voters could revote.
 
In Sohag, all polling centers began half an hour late. There were mistakes in the electoral rolls; some names were excluded and others were repeated. In el-Gandoba, vote buying was remarkable phenomenon. In the polling center no. 89, the monitoring judge urged electorate to elect certain candidate. In stations no. 82-89, the vote was public. Some nominees’ supporters stood outside polling stations possessing some weapons.
 
In Tahta, the excessive presence of police hindered the voting process. In Nazlet el-Qady, ballot box stuffing was observed; voters did not have IDs nor dipped their fingers in the phosphoric ink.
 
In el-Daqhlia province, representatives of independent candidates were prevented from entering the polling centers. Villages known for their support for the Brotherhood were sealed off. In polling center no. 21, voting was public. In Meet Gamr village, the polling station was closed at 9:30am. Dozens of Brotherhood’s supporters were put under arrest. Meet Nagy, the village of the Brotherhood nominee was completely besieged. Thugs were ready to hinder opposition’s voters. Vote buying was noticeable in the village, in addition.
 
In Aswan, vote was public. Only the supporters of the National Democratic Party were granted access to polling stations. In Edfo City, electoral rolls were incomplete. 
 
In Dametta, 200 face-covered women were detained. In Bandar Dametta, polling centers were cordoned. In addition, vote was suspended over two hours. Intimidation of voters, under the watchful of police, was very observable. In the polling station no. 73, the judge was obliged to head for barred voters to cast their votes.