CAIRO: Egyptians living outside the country are beginning to cast their ballot on a controversial draft constitution the opposition here in Egypt has been calling for a delay in the voting. Expats are heading to embassies across the world to vote on the constitution that critics say has been drafted by an overly Islamist committee that limits the country's freedoms and does not protect equality. The official state news agency reported voting had started and Al-Jazeera showed live images of Egyptians going to the embassy in Qatar to cast their ballots. Voting will take place in Egypt on Saturday, but that is now fraught with controversy after President Mohamed Morsi amended the electoral law on Tuesday that requires citizens to vote in their home electoral district, a change from the March 2011 referendum when Egyptians could vote at any polling station with their ID card. This means that any Egyptian originally from outside, for example, Cairo and is working in the capital, would be required to travel to their hometown in order to cast a ballot. “The Supreme Electoral Commission had requested that polling outside voters' electoral districts be cancelled for the referendum so as to avoid doubts about the fairness of the poll, as well as alleviate pressure on judges supervising the vote," the presidential office said in a statement on Tuesday morning. Voters had been allowed to cast their ballots outside their own electoral districts during the referendum on March 19, 2011. For many in Cairo, this means they will not be able to cast a ballot in the referendum, as the means to return to their original electoral district is too great. Sherif Abbas, 27, a computer engineer in Cairo, told Bikyamasr.com that he won't be able to travel to Alexandria on Saturday to vote. “I have to work and it is impossible for me to leave because it's a job," he said, adding that at least four other people in is Cairo office also won't be able to leave. And how would he vote? “I would definitely vote against the constitution because it is very dangerous for our future." They aren't the only ones, either. Numerous Egyptians will be unable to vote in the referendum because there is little time to make plans to return to their electoral districts. Opposition protesters are once again crying foul that the move will ensure a “yes" vote for the referendum, with so many Egyptians not being able, or willing, to travel long distances to cast a ballot.
