Qatar cuts key interest rates by 25 bps    Global pressure mounts on Israel as Gaza death toll surges, war deepens    Egypt targets 7.7% AI contribution to GDP by 2030: Communications Minister    Irrigation Minister highlights Egypt's water challenges, innovation efforts at DAAD centenary celebration    Egypt discusses strengthening agricultural ties, investment opportunities with Indian delegation    Al-Sisi welcomes Spain's monarch in historic first visit, with Gaza, regional peace in focus    Cairo governor briefs PM on Khan el-Khalili, Rameses Square development    El Gouna Film Festival's 8th edition to coincide with UN's 80th anniversary    Egypt expands medical, humanitarian support for Gaza patients    Egypt condemns Israeli offensive in Gaza City, warns of grave regional consequences    Cairo University, Roche Diagnostics inaugurate automated lab at Qasr El-Ainy    Egypt investigates disappearance of ancient bracelet from Egyptian Museum in Tahrir    Egypt launches international architecture academy with UNESCO, European partners    Egypt signs MoUs with 3 European universities to advance architecture, urban studies    Egypt's Sisi, Qatar's Emir condemn Israeli strikes, call for Gaza ceasefire    Egypt condemns terrorist attack in northwest Pakistan    Egyptian pound ends week lower against US dollar – CBE    Egypt hosts G20 meeting for 1st time outside member states    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt seeks Indian expertise to boost pharmaceutical industry    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Less than 100,000 Egyptian expats register to vote
Published in Daily News Egypt on 14 - 11 - 2011

CAIRO: Less than 100,000 Egyptians living abroad have registered to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections out of an estimated 8 million since electronic registration began last Thursday, according to data on the official elections website.
The latest count on elections2011.eg, which took place on Nov. 13 at 8:00 pm, shows that 99,120 expats have registered, the majority of which reside in Saudi Arabia, accounting for 40,729. Less than 5,000 Egyptians in the US registered to vote, fueling speculation that the whole initiative might be called off.
Registration, which started on Nov. 10, ends on Nov. 19 while the first phase of the parliamentary elections is on Nov. 28. Registration is open to all expats who carry a national identification card issued before Sept. 27, 2011 when the electoral databases were finalized.
After much campaigning abroad and within Egypt, expats were only allowed to vote through a court verdict.
Many politicians and observers speculated that the expat vote would be a game-changer.
The low turnout is due to the lack of media campaigns announcing the registration, said Nasser Amin, head of the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judicial and Legal Profession.
“There hasn't been an adequate media campaign telling Egyptians abroad that they can vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections and informing them of the registration process,” said the veteran lawyer also running in the elections.
Such a campaign, he added, has to emphasize the importance of political participation in this crucial period in Egypt's history.
“There has been a lot of hearsay and controversy regarding the issue of expats voting, so a lot of those abroad may be confused and don't know whether they can vote or not,” he said.
He suggested an advertising campaign on all major international news outlets such as CNN and BBC.
Mahmoud Omara, an Egyptian expat living in France who was delegated by Prime Minister Essam Sharaf to handle the file of Egyptian expats voting, previously told DNE that he doubts the parliamentary elections would attract more than half a million people.
He said Egyptian expats are keener to cast their ballots in the presidential elections and in the yet-to-be drafted constitution referendum.
"Not many people will be interested in traveling from Marseille to Paris to cast their vote for a candidate in Upper Egypt for instance," he said when the registration began last week.


Clic here to read the story from its source.