Diplomatic sources inside the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs today expressed concerns over problems with expatriate voting, including apathy toward the voting process and registration, lack of diplomats available to supervise elections and the short period of time available to galvanize support. There are an estimated 10 million expatriate Egyptians, sources reported. Some of those registering to vote in Egyptian embassies are illegal immigrants, sources continued. Some Egyptian embassies are in apartment complexes or skyscrapers, meaning that they will be unsuitable for the electoral process, they said. The ministry of foreign affairs lacks the human and financial resources to follow and supervise the electoral process abroad, the diplomatic sources claimed. “Egyptian citizens abroad will have the right to vote only if they carry the Egyptian national identification card issued before September 27,” said Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf. Other alternatives, such as online voting, are still under study.
