CAIRO: Prime Minister Essam Sharaf announced today on his official Facebook account that the Egyptian government will begin making legimitate efforts toward facilitating expat voting for Egyptian nationals living abroad. Egyptian courts declared last week that it would allow Egyptian expats to vote in national elections at voting centers set up in embassies abroad. “Respecting the constitutional rights of all citizens is not up for discussion. God willing, we shall be able to overcome all legislative and executive obstacles standing in the way of the participation of Egyptians abroad in the elections. No matter the degree of difficulty of these procedures, it will be dwarfed in comparison to the noble goal of participation in elections,” said Sharaf on the page. The verdict is still pending approval from Egypt's interim ruling government, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), raising fears within the expat community that the military government may not recognize the court decision. However, Sharaf's statement indicates a strong step towards government approval for the verdict. Egyptians living abroad could change the face of Egyptian elections, as their numbers near an estimated 8 million people. The government is expected to allow Egyptian expatriates to vote in upcoming presidential elections, anticipated for sometime next year. They may also grant Egyptian expatriates the right to vote in the country's referendum votes, such as the constitutional referendum expected to take place next year. Egyptian expatriates recently launched a digital “Right to Vote” campaign to advocate for their rights as Egyptian nationals. Egypt's parliamentary elections are scheduled to begin on November 28, and will take place in several phases, with upper house elections ending on March 24, 2012. The new parliament will adjourn on March 17, 2012. BM
