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Africa North
Final phase of Egypt's constitution vote ends
2012-12-23
[Al Ahram] On a relatively uneventful day, Egyptians in seventeen governorates voted in the second phase of the referendum on the new constitution.

In a throwback to the first phase in the poll last Saturday the opposition has complained of violations that threaten the legitimacy of the whole process while the Islamist parties, especially the Moslem Brüderbund, rejected the opposition's allegations.

In the governorate of Ismailia on the Suez Canal members of the leading opposition's National Salvation Front announced the withdrawal of their delegates from monitoring the referendum in the afternoon to object to "massive violations."

On the other hand, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) Board member Mohamed Gamal Heshmat accused rights groups and monitors of "falsely" creating problems in an attempt to taint the image of the referendum.

Accusations of voting improprieties throughout the day included rigging votes, banning rival voters from entering polling stations, and attempts by partisans to influence voters as they cast ballots.

Observers say that the turnout in this phase will not be higher than the first phase that saw about 32 per cent participation.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Electoral Commission had extended the voting hours from 7pm to 11pm due to "high voter turnout."
Posted by:Fred

#2  note that the Moslem Brotherhood used some of the same tactics that the Donks use to run up the numbers in favorable districts-

- grab your 'likely supporters' and drag them to the polls
- coach them on the way on how to vote
- put intimidating posters and maybe some intimidating people near or in the polling places
Posted by: lord garth   2012-12-23 17:41  

#1  Final phase of Egypt's constitution vote ends

...and the final phase of Egypt begins.
Posted by: SteveS   2012-12-23 11:09  

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