National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) and independent observatories monitored violations by candidates and administrative mistakes in the first phase of parliamentary elections, Al-Bawaba News reported Wednesday. NCHR said it had received 31 complaints from 11 governorates, including a number of violations committed by a number of candidates from different parties. In some governorates, political parties used loudspeakers and banners to campaign for their candidates in front of the polling stations. Furthermore, some candidates distributed bribes for the voters in front of polling stations. In some constituencies, some polling stations delayed opening the polling stations on time, and other administrative mistakes occurred, including preventing some observers and journalists from entering polling stations despite having valid permits from the High Election Committee (HEC). NCHR's report pointed out that the voter turnout announced by the Prime Minister Sharif Ismail that ranged from 15% to 20%, while HEC did not comment on those remarks, especially with the obvious low turnout on the first day of elections which forced the authorities to stimulate citizens to participate.
