Egyptian expats begin vote in presidential elections

Egypt’s presidential elections kicked off on Friday with expatriates casting their vote in a three-day process.

Elections in Egypt will be held on December 10 to 12. The results will be announced on December 18.

Three candidates are running against incumbent President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is expected to win a third term, lasting six years.

Expatriates cast their vote at 137 Egyptian embassies and consulates in 121 countries.

Authorities have not disclosed the number of expats eligible to vote, but Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs Suha al-Gendy said earlier this week that she was confident of a heavy turnout.

Egypt boasts around 14 million expatriates.

A 2021 report from the Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics revealed that the majority of expats live in Arab countries followed by North America.

The candidates competing against Sisi are head of the opposition Social Democratic Party Farid Zahran, head of the liberal Wafd Party Abdel-Sanad Yamama and head of the liberal People’s Republican Party Hazem Omar.

Egypt’s state Middle East News Agency reported a heavy turnout on the first day of voting, especially in the Arab Gulf region.

Egypt’s Grand Mufti Dr. Shawki Allam had called on Egyptians abroad to vote in the election, saying it was a national duty.

The last presidential elections were held in 2018 with turnout of 24.3 million out of 59.1 eligible voters.