In pics: Voters nationwide vote on constitutional amendments

CAIRO – 20 April 2019: Residents of Alexandria, Minya, Qena, Menoufia, Matrouh and Beheira governorates, on Saturday morning, flocked to polling stations to cast their votes in the referendum on constitutional amendments.

Cairo has seen a relatively high turnout of voters so far, as has the Giza governorate.

Also, Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anani was seen casting his ballot in a polling station in Luxor, due to his presence there during the discovery of a new tomb at the Draa Abul Naga necropolis in Luxor’s West Bank.


Halayeb and Shalateen witness high turnout in referendum


Halayeb and Shalateen witness high turnout in referendum


Halayeb and Shalateen witness high turnout in referendum


Halayeb and Shalateen witness high turnout in referendum

The approved amendments expand each of the two presidential terms allowed for any president to six years instead of four, while a separate transitional article gives an exceptional right to incumbent President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who was re-elected in 2018, to run for a third 6-year term after he finishes his second term in 2024 instead of 2022.

Over 4 million eligible voters can cast their ballots in 762 polling stations across Alexandria, while in Upper Egypt's Minya, voters are around 3.36 million, and cast their vote in 737 polling stations.

Policemen, in coordination with the Armed Forces, station around the polling stations to secure voters, and protect the citizens' constitutional right to vote.

Menoufia Governor Saeed Abbas said that all 611 polling stations in the governorate have been well prepared to receive 2.621 million voters, calling on all the residents of the governorate to take part in the referendum.


A blind voter cast his ballot in Menoufia – Press photo

In the Mediterranean governorate of Matrouh, 159 polling stations could receive voters to take part in the referendum. The number of eligible voters in the governorate is assumed at 286,059 voters.

Meanwhile, residents of Beheira flocked to 908 polling stations throughout the governorate, which has 3.895 million eligible voters, accounting for 6.36 percent of the total voters nationwide.

Behira governorate has been known for supporting the state, as more than 1.5 million Beheira citizens renewed their trust in President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi in the 2018 election, and elected him for a second term, according to official results.

In Upper Egypt's Aswan, about a million people are eligible to vote in the referendum, with 252 polling stations distributed across the Upper Egyptian governorate, while in Luxor, around 800,000 eligible voters can vote in 195 polling stations.

In Qena, over 1.96 million voters can visit over 400 polling stations to cast their ballot.



Voters cast their ballot in Qena – Press photo


Woman voting in Alexandria

Women in Alexandria have gone out in especially high numbers.