Egypt holds 2-day Senate elections with over 69M eligible voters

CAIRO/ISTANBUL

Egypt began voting Monday in elections for its Senate, the upper chamber of parliament, with more than 69 million citizens eligible to cast ballots over two days.

Polling opened at 9 am local time (07:00 GMT) in more than 8,000 stations nationwide, according to the state news agency MENA. Judicial authorities are overseeing the process, which runs until Tuesday evening.

A total of 424 candidates are competing for 100 seats under the individual candidacy system, including 183 independents and 241 party nominees. Another 100 seats are contested by a single nationwide list known as the “National List for Egypt,” covering the country’s four constituencies.

The National Election Authority said more than 9,000 members of the State Lawsuits Authority and the Administrative Prosecution Authority, two judicial institutions, are heading 8,825 subcommittees inside 8,286 polling centers, assisted by around 65,000 staff.

Nine international organizations, 59 local civil society groups, and delegations from 20 diplomatic missions are monitoring the polls. Nearly 25,000 accredited observers from local, regional, and international media outlets are also covering the vote.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly cast their ballots in Cairo and Giza governorates, respectively. After voting, Madbouly urged citizens to participate “actively and responsibly in this national duty.”

Egyptians abroad voted Friday and Saturday in 136 polling stations across 117 countries.

Preliminary results will be announced on Aug. 12, followed by campaigning for runoff elections the same day. Runoff voting is set for Aug. 25–26 abroad and Aug. 27–28 inside the country. Final results will be published in the official gazette on Sept. 4.

The 300-member Senate has a mainly advisory role, with two-thirds elected and the president appointing the remaining third.

Under the constitution, the chamber reviews proposed constitutional amendments, the government’s development plans, sovereignty-related treaties, and legislation referred by the president or the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament.