- Title: EGYPT: Country's undecided voters brace for complex poll
- Date: 28th November 2011
- Summary: ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT (NOVEMBER 27, 2011) (REUTERS) CAMPAIGN BANNERS HUNG ALEXANDRIA STREET / TRAFFIC MAN STICKS CAMPAIGN POSTER ON CANDIDATE PROMOTIONAL CAR MAN IN CANDIDATE PROMOTIONAL CAR TALKING THROUGH MICROPHONE VARIOUS OF CAMPAIGN BANNERS HUNG IN STREETS BLANK BANNER READING: 'Freedom' AT DEMONSTRATOR SIT-IN SITE VICTOR SQUARE OF DEMONSTRATOR SIT-IN DEMONSTRATORS IN SQUARE, CHANTING: "One, two, where is the hand over of power" DEMONSTRATORS SEATED AT STATUE IN SQUARE STATUE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DEMONSTRATOR, KHALED SHARA, SAYING: "It is impossible for the upcoming elections to represent the revolution or the revolutionary youth. The elections are a joke, I don't know how they're going to secure the elections if they're not even able to secure us, or the security directorate. But nonetheless, every person's vote is their right in these elections, you have to go vote because it is your right to vote. If you give up your right then you're not allowed to complain later. But if the elections are imposed on us then we will have to vote and so does everybody else." TENT ERECTED AT SIT-IN SITE DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING: "Field marshal, your legitimacy is from Tahrir." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DEMONSTRATOR, AHMED TALAAT, SAYING: "I personally will not take part in the elections because I am boycotting them for personal reasons, concerning my own dignity. If anyone wishes to join me that will be fine. But I am going to go to the polling station and render my vote invalid. I will write on the election paper: Down with Military Rule' and place it in the ballot box." STREET VENDOR ON ALEXANDRIA MAIN ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) STREET VENDOR, MOHAMED MAHMOUD, SAYING: "(will vote for) I think it'll be who will provide good for this country. Those that we frequently see doing good for the country. There are some that are just faces in pictures to us, but there are others that I know of, that have really done good for this country, both public and private." VARIOUS OF EGYPTIAN MAN FISHING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN, NADER SHAHEEN, SAYING: "At least we feel that our voices mean something, that it will be a true vote, unlike before. Before, when I was at home, someone else would vote instead of me. What more is there to say?" VARIOUS OF COUPLE STANDING AT BRIDGE ON MAIN ALEXANDRIA ROAD 19. MEDITERRANEAN SHORE
- Embargoed: 13th December 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt, Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Politics,Population
- Reuters ID: LVA6ANE5GDXXRLLCSZVYSWH0X4GR
- Story Text: Egyptians in Alexandria prepare hours ahead of the Egypt's first parliamentary vote since its revolution, on Monday (November 28).
Beside the mediterranean shore of Egypt's coastal city, the variety of campaign banners erected, represent members from more political parties than in the time of Egypt's ousted president Mubarak, where the ruling National Democratic party was the main attraction.
With the country still recovering from a week of violence between between demonstrators demanding the ruling military council hand over power to a civilian government and security forces, the fate of the elections was unclear.
Demonstrators remain in Cairo's Tahrir square, the focal point of the revolution, and more echo their chants in Alexandria, where tens have staged a sit-in near Victor square.
Yet throughout the violence, Egypt's ruling military council insisted elections will be held on time and promised heightened security.
However, demonstrator Khaled Shara in Alexandria remains far from convinced.
"It is impossible for the upcoming elections to represent the revolution or the revolutionary youth. The elections are a joke, I don't know how they're going to secure the elections if they're not even able to secure us, or the security directorate," he said.
"But nonetheless, every person's vote is their right in these elections, you have to go vote because it is your right to vote. If you give up your right then you're not allowed to complain later. But if the elections are imposed on us then we will have to vote and so does everybody else," he continued.
The election for 498 seats in the lower house of parliament will be held over three phases split into 12 days of voting which end in early January. After that, there are three more stages of voting for the upper house, which end in March.
Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city, is in the first stage due to start on Monday (November 28) but a demonstrator occupying Victor Square told Reuters that he could not vote for a parliament under a system of government that have the blood of innocent people on their hands.
"I personally will not take part in the elections because I am boycotting them for personal reasons, concerning my own dignity. If anyone wishes to join me that will be fine. But I am going to go to the polling station and render my vote invalid. I will write on the election paper: Down with Military Rule' and place it in the ballot box," he said.
With more than 6,000 candidates competing for the individual seats and more than 400 party lists, some fear the confusion favors those already with a foothold in politics - namely the Muslim Brotherhood and people formerly linked to deposed President Hosni Mubarak's National Democratic Party.
Many of the candidates are still virtually unknown and voters, emerging from decades of oppression, will have to choose between a confusing mass of candidates and rival parties.
"( I will vote for) I think it'll be who will provide good for this country. Those that we frequently see doing good for the country.
There are some that are just faces in pictures to us, but there are others that I know of, that have really done good for this country, both public and private," said street vendor, Mohamed Mahmoud.
Analysts fear the result of the historic ballot could turn on the last minute decisions of an inexperienced electorate, who have only been given a few weeks to come to grips with a highly complex voting system.
Egypt has chosen an intricate system for its first free vote in decades. Two-thirds of the 498 lower house seats will be picked by proportional representation, while the remaining third are open to individuals, who may or may not have party affiliations.
But aside from the confusion, Nader Shaheen is glad with the opportunity for the first transparent vote in years.
"At least we feel that our voices mean something, that it will be a true vote, unlike before. Before, when I was at home, someone else would vote instead of me. What more is there to say?," he said.
Polls will be open for 12 hours in schools around the country. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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