Opposition NSF reports violations during constitutional referendum ballot casting. (DNE/ Hassan Ibrahim) Human rights and civil society organisations have reported numerous violations in polling stations across the country as Egyptians vote in the referendum on the draft constitution. In Cairo, the Independent Coalition for Monitoring Elections reported 21 violations by 2pm. The National Salvation Front, the largest opposition bloc, set up a referendum monitoring control room in the headquarters of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party. The front released a statement saying it observed violations in all 10 governorates in which the referendum was being held Saturday. They released five violation reports by 3pm, listing a total of 184 violations nationwide. Most violations had to do with an absence of judges at polling stations or judges refusing to show proof of identity. NSF monitors also listed observers of Islamist parties directing voters to vote “yes" for the constitution. The Supreme Electoral Commission announced the closing of 18 polling stations in the Karmouz area of Alexandria because no judges showed up. The I Am a Free Egyptian campaign released two reports, listing violations in Alexandria. Violations mainly consisted of lateness in opening the stations to the public, of not having ink to mark voters' fingers, or using the wrong kind. Several judges reportedly refused monitors access to polling stations. They also reportedly directed voters to vote “yes" or allowed Islamist monitors, election officials inside poll station and campaigners outside to do so. Many polling stations had incomplete voter registration lists or none at all. Others used unsealed ballot boxes. Reports also indicated that in several polling stations only observers from the Muslim Brotherhood were allowed inside. Some stations did not have any judges while over 50 have yet to open in Dakahlia alone. In Cairo, some ballots were not stamped with the state official seal. There were also reports of ballot stuffing in Cairo and group voting in several governorates. Some boxes were full before voting started in several stations, including 18 boxes in a Hadayek Al-Qobba station in Cairo. There was at least one instance in a Cairo polling station where a voter found his name signed off in the registration list despite him not having voted yet. Names of dead citizens also appeared on several voter registration lists. In two Nasr City polling stations a judge was allegedly prohibiting Christian voters from entering the stations, whereas Muslim Brotherhood members were being allowed to distribute sugar, oil and tea in front of an Ain Shams polling station. Bodyguards sealed off another Nasr City station as Muslim Brotherhood Deputy Supreme Guide Khairat El-Shater cast his ballot. Also in Nasr City, judges were not checking identification of Niqab-wearing women. The NSF reports also included several instances where instead of judges, deputy prosecutors or even lawyers were monitoring the referendum. In other stations, reporters for privately owned newspapers and television channels were banned from entering. While most violations were in favour of the “yes" vote, there was one instance in a Katameya polling station where ballots with “yes" votes were reportedly changed to “no" votes.
