According to provisional figures, an average voter turnout of 80 to 88 percent was recorded at Saturday's referendum on constitutional amendments, said Egyptian rights organizations on Sunday. In a joint report, Observers Without Borders, the Human Rights Defenders Network and the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Freedom and Justice said the turnout on Saturday was the highest true voter turnout recorded in Egypt during the past 60 years. The report says that this turnout is the most significant gain achieved so far in the country's transition to democracy, and one which will help increase Egyptians' interest in voting in upcoming elections. It says that this level of engagement will enable the Constitution's declaration that authority is in the hands of the people to become a reality. The report also said that provisional figures indicate a difference of 10 percent between those who voted "yes" and those who voted "no" and that polling stations in cities will possibly witness a slightly higher percentage of supporting votes. According to the report, over 60 percent of voters at polling stations in the Nile Delta, Upper Egypt and border governorates voted "yes" and therefore the total votes in favour of passing the amendments is expected to reach nearly 65 percent. News reports said the ballot counting has ended in most polling stations and provisional figures showed that those supporting the constitutional amendments will be the majority. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
