Egyptians are taking to polling stations nationwide to cast their vote in a referendum on constitutional amendments Saturday, often with an overwhelming sense of pride and trust in the value of their ballots.
Long queues of voters wrapped around polling stations, bringing together men and women of all ages and classes. Many of them are voting for the first time in their life in what many anticipate will be Egypt’s first free and fair referendum.
“This is the first time for me to participate in a poll. I came today to support change,” said Mona Farahat, 65, who was casting her vote in Maadi’s al-Qana School. “It’s an excellent experience. It’s very organized. For the first time I see a huge number of women coming to vote.”
People were respecting the queue in most cases, but often allowed elderly and pregnant voters to take early turns.
Saber Issa Mohamed is a teacher delegated to help run the New Shamashergy polling station in Shubra. “The number [of voters] is exceptionally high. In the last two hours we had more than 1000 voters. People are coming today because they feel their vote will make a difference and they want to participate in change.”
In Garden City, thousands congregated around the Ibrahimeya School. Policemen stood next to the polling station and welcomed voters warmly. Some said they were surprised at the polite treatment.
In the same polling station, about ten people in wheelchairs came to cast their vote. Each one was received with a wave of applause from fellow voters on his way out of the station.
Some irregularities were observed; in some polling stations in Zamalek, Maadi, Heliopolis and Mohandessin some ballots were reportedly unstamped.
In Heliopolis, a woman was disappointed when she could remove the indelible ink used to mark voters who have cast ballots with nail polish remover. “I am very disappointed. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. All efforts should be done in order to make sure the voting is properly done,” said Nahed Lotfy, a housewife.
In polling stations visited by Al-Masry Al-Youm, there were no signs of campaigning for or against the constitutional amendments. No representation of any particular political group was spotted either.
Voters who checked “yes” on their ballots cited stability and civilian rule as their reasons.
“I am one of the people who cannot wait to have stability. I really want the military to leave. I don’t want them to stay longer. We want a civil state. Enough with military rulers, we tried them for so long and learned that they never listen to others,” said Amira al-Sayed, 36, who works for the Social Fund for Development, as she voted at al-Qana School.
Those who voted “no” cited their fears of old political forces resurging and expressed their determination to have a new constitution.
“We want a new constitution. We didn’t do a whole revolution not to have a new constitution. We want neither the Muslim Brotherhood nor the National Democratic Party. We want young and clean parties. Enough cut and paste,” said Nahed al-Gabaly at the Imam Ali school polling station in Dokki.
