The High Elections Commission (HEC) will annul the parliamentary candidacy of anyone using religious slogans if he or she is officially reported and the commission can verify the allegations, said the commission's head on Tuesday. Abdel Moez Ibrahim also told the press that the HEC has ordered all administrative judicial bodies to crack down on any violations in electoral campaigning. Regarding the continuation of illegal campaigning, Ibrahim said that it is a moral issue, as future lawmakers should not break the law themselves. Speaking about the late arrival of supervising judges and ballot papers to many polling stations during the first round of the parliamentary elections last week, Ibrahim said the committee is trying to prevent such problems happening again. He said judges will supervise polling stations close to their places of residence and will be given ballot papers 24 hours before voting starts. Responding to rumours of rigging, Ibrahim claimed that for the first time in Egypt's history no rigging has taken place. He said the HEC has sent a copy of the voters' registration records to the public prosecution in order to fine those who have not voted. Lastly, Ibrahim revealed a plan to amend the law to make the HEC a permanent body.
