Egypt’s 2nd Day of Election: No Voters
Local Editor
Egyptians appeared to be shunning the ballot box for a second day Monday in what one newspaper called "an election without voters", highlighting growing disillusionment since the army seized power in 2013 and promised to restore democracy.
Voting got off to a slow start, a day after polling stations pointed to a turnout of around 10 percent in sharp contrast to the long lines and enthusiasm in the 2012 election.
Younger Egyptians who make up the majority of the population were virtually absent, with many people dismissing it as a sham or expressing doubt that new lawmakers would change anything.
Coming a day after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged Egyptians to cast their ballots, the low turnout suggested the former general, who once enjoyed cult-like adulation, was losing some of his appeal.
Last year's presidential election was extended for a third day in order to boost turnout, with pro-government media pushing Egyptians to show up. Sisi won 97 percent of votes.
This time, even Egypt's largely loyalist press focused on the lack of interest in the polls.
In an apparent attempt to encourage voting, public sector workers will receive a half day holiday Monday.
"We don't know anything about these candidates so I'm not going to give my vote to someone who doesn't deserve it," Michael Bassili, 19, from Alexandria.
"As youth we're trying to fix the country and we'll work to do this...but these guys are just interested in money and themselves."
Egypt has had no parliament since June 2012 when a court dissolved the elected main chamber, then dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood.
But even some who voted for Sisi last year are not planning to cast a ballot this time.
"There is security since Sisi took power and that's good but its not just about security. A lot of things need to change, the economy, tourism, the high prices in the country," said Ahmed, a 35-year-old father of three.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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