CAIRO - A top judge, who heads Egypt's Higher Electoral Commission, said on Saturday that he started the process of preparing the nation for the parliamentary elections, which would be held next November. Justice Abdul Moez Ibrahim pledged that the elections, the first after the January 25 Revolution, would be fair and transparent. Justice Ibrahim said that the Commission would start its work in September, with the vote expected to begin during the second half of November. He said that the Commission will prepare voter rosters, candidate lists and oversee a one-month campaigning period. "The November parliamentary elections to smooth transition to civilian rule will take place in three stages to make it easier for judges to oversee voting," Justice Ibrahim said, according to the official Middle East News Agency (MENA). He said that preparations for the elections for the People's Assembly and the Shura Council (the lower and upper houses of parliament) will start in September and the vote will begin during the second half of November. "Exact dates will be announced by the end of September," he said. Voters will cast ballots for both the lower and upper houses at the same time and the elections will be held in 120 voting districts. A period of 15 days will separate one stage from the next, during which any re-run will be held, he said, adding that staggering the vote would ensure judges could monitor polling thoroughly. Justice Ibrahim said that the elections would be held under the theme of 'A Judge for Monitoring Every Ballot Box'. He said that the army's role during the elections will be to provide security only. "Only the judiciary will monitor to ensure the fairness of the elections," he said, adding that the polls would be under the full judicial supervision to prevent rigging, thuggery and bribery . Justice Ibrahim said that holding elections over three stages allows the judges to be present. He confirmed the vote would be split between a proportional system of party lists and geographical seats, with half of the 504 seats in the lower house assigned to each. Justice Ibrahim said that the Commission would set the rules governing the parliamentary polls, which hepromised would be fair and transparent. He reiterated the electoral process - which includes presentation of candidacy, campaigning, fixing voter registration lists and defining constituencies - would start by the end of September. Voting would be over three rounds, with 15 days between each round and, would be based on a mixed system combining a party list and single-seat system, Justice Ibrahim said, adding that fifty per cent of seats would be reserved for farmers and workers.
