Additional reserve judges appointed to polling stations due to unprecedented turnout in elections, NEA

CAIRO – 10 December 2024:  Egypt’s National Elections Authority [NEA] announced on Sunday that electoral Process is flowing regularly and smoothly since opening the polling stations at 9 am all over the country.

NEA stated that number of reserve judges were appointed to several polling stations to speed up the pace of the voting process and reduce the crowding all over the country.

The Authority stressed that the large turnout from citizens, exceeded all expectations.

National Elections Authority expressed its deep ‘thanks and appreciation’ to the masses, who have shown a deep awareness of the importance of positive and effective participation in 2024 Precedential election.

NEA also mourned, with great sadness two citizens passed away during casting their ballots on Sunday, are: Aziza Tawfiq Mahmoud Ali Rajab, who passed away at the age of 63 in Nasr City, Cairo. And, Saber Tawfiq Saber Youssef, who passed away at the age of 55, while casting his vote in the city of Nabarouh in Dakahlia Governorate.

Earlier on Sunday, executive director of the National Election Authority (NEA) and Head of the Central Operations Room to follow up on Egyptians’ voting, Ahmed Bendari said on Sunday that the Operations Room monitored the intensity of citizens’ turnout at polling stations in the presidential elections since the first hour of voting.

Bendari explained during a press conference that the operation room conducted audio and video calls with the heads of the polling stations in the various governorates. They [judges] confirmed the regularity of the voting process in the general and sub-stations in their work flow of receiving voters to cast their ballots.

He added that the committees for expatriates are witnessing the largest turnout in the various governorates of the country since the first moment voting opened in the presidential elections. There are also stations for women that are witnessing high turnouts.

The 2024 presidential election is the fifth multi-party presidential elections that the country has witnessed in its modern history. The 2024 elections gain their importance from being a major step in the country’s path towards democratic transformation, party pluralism and political competitiveness, which came after a year and a half of serious and unprecedented national dialogue, which included all components Egyptian political, union and civil society.

At 9 AM sharp, President Abdel Fattah al Sisi, president since 2014, voted in the elections. First Lady Entissar Amer has also cast her ballot in the same polling station in Heliopolis, Cairo.

Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Qabbaj, Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Abbas Helmi, and Mokhtar Abdel Latif, Chairman of the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) cast their ballots.

Youth and elderly voters have flocked to the polling stations across Egypt to exercise their constitutional right in casting their votes.

The 2024 Presidential Elections for citizens inside the country is taking place a few days after the three-day voting process for Egyptians abroad was concluded early in December.

The marathon is held between four contenders, including incumbent President Sisi, President of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party Farid Zahran, President of Al Wafd Party Abdel-Sanad Yamama, and President of the Republican People's Party Hazem Omar.

The four candidates have released their vision to improve people’s lives in the coming six-year presidential term.

The final result will be announced on December 18 if no run-off is required. Voting inside the country will take place from 10-12 December.