A violent rainstorm that submerged main streets of the coastal province of Alexandria and killed five people on Sunday negatively affected voter turnout for runoff votes in the first round of House of Representatives' elections, observer missions have said.
The Local-International Mission to Observe Parliamentary Elections said there was “a remarkable impact by bad weather in Alexandria over voter turnout”, adding that many “faced difficulty reaching polling stations, especially in the districts of Montazah and Muharram Bey”.
The crisis forced Alexandria Governor Hany al-Messiry to resign late Sunday over mounting popular indignance of the local authorities’ failure to contain floodwaters.
Media reports have shown photos of flooded main streets and houses, with one showing the rainwater level at the province’s main coastal way as high as that of the sea.
Runoffs for Egyptian expatriates began on Monday and end Tuesday, though diplomatic missions have already reported a very low turnout, while voters at home vote on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In an apparent bid to stimulate voters to attend the polls, the High Elections Commission said it is adamant in enforcing the LE500 fine it had announced for those who fail to vote.
