Egyptians in Japan, S. Korea head to polls to pick president

CAIRO – 16 March 2018: Egypt's embassies in Japan and South Korea started early Friday to receive Egyptians living in Tokyo and Seoul who come to vote in the 2018 presidential election.

The Egyptian ambassador to Japan Ayman Kamel said that the embassy in the Japanese capital has completed its preparations for the ballot a few days ago, adding that the voting process began at 2am (Cairo time).

Kamel pointed out that the Egyptian community in Japan consists of about 1,500 people, stressing that the embassy is ready to receive all the Egyptians living in this country.


The Egyptian ambassador in Japan with an expat casting his ballot in the 2018 presidential election held at the embassy in Tokyo - Egypt Today

For his part, Egypt's ambassador to South Korea Hazem Fahmy said the electoral process has been proceeding smoothly since the start of ballots in Seoul at 9am local time.

Fahmy pointed out that the embassy has contacted over the past few days with the Egyptian community residing in South Korea via social media to explain the voting process and the opening and closing dates of the electoral committee


The Egyptian ambassador in South Korea with an expat after casting his ballot in the 2018 presidential election held at the embassy in Seoul - Egypt Today
Egyptian expatriates began lining up at polling stations in different countries such as Australia and New Zealand to cast ballots in the presidential election scheduled to last for three days.

Consulates and embassies across the world were to officially open their doors Friday at 9am local time in each country.

The Egyptian embassy in New Zealand was the first to open to the electorate, given an 11 hour time difference with Cairo.

Due to political unrest and a worsening security situation, the elections would not take place in three countries: Yemen, Syria and Libya.

Egyptians at home are due on March 26-28 to cast their ballots in the country's 27 governorates.

Egyptian Foreign Minister's Deputy Hamdi Loza said previously that all foreign missions have been provided with electronic scanners so voters’ ID cards and passports can be quickly scanned, noting that the whole expatriate voting process will be monitored by surveillance cameras linked with an operations room at the foreign ministry.

He added that the foreign ministry held training courses for committees that will supervise voting abroad under the supervision of the National Elections Authority (NEA), as well as other procedures aimed at facilitating the highest turnout from expats.

Loza called on Egyptians abroad to participate in the presidential elections, which will begin on March 16 and last for three days.

In 2017 the government estimated the number of Egyptians living abroad at 9.4 million.

The National Election Authority (NEA), headed by counselor Lashin Ibrahim, announced on February 24 the final list for Egypt’s upcoming presidential election including President Sisi and Moussa Moustafa Moussa, Head of al-Ghad Party.

Sixty million eligible voters will cast their ballots in the election on March 26-28 in Egypt, while expatriates will vote on March 16-18 at 139 polling stations located in embassies and consulates of 124 countries, said Ibrahim in a press conference.

The primary results of the first round of the election will be announced on March 29, where decisions on appeals submitted by candidates, if any, will be made.

The final results of the first round will be announced on April 2.