Partners in the Nation
Municipal Elections Monitoring Campaign, April 2008
Press Statement

The Egyptian Association for Supporting Democratic Development (EASD) and the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies (ECDDS) deployed 4700 observers to monitor the closing and counting processes after the voting process across 24 governorates was over; as the Governorates of Fayyoum and Ismailia were closed by acclamation.

During the closing of the polling stations EASD reported that numerous polling stations closed before 19:00, in contradiction of the Law on Exercising Political and Civil Rights. Observers also reported cases of ballot stuffing.

Electoral Transgressions

In El-Adabeya Elementary School polling station, Attaka district, Suez Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported closing the station at 16:00.

In Sers El-Layyan district, Menufeyya Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported that the polling stations at the following schools: ( El-Shaheed El-Gendi – El-Shaheed El-Malki – Abdo Hamza Elementary School – El-Nassr School – El- Sallam School – Ali ibn Abi Talib) were closed at 17:00.

In polling station # (33) in Al-Waffa Schhol, Temma district, Suhag Governorate, the station was closed at 18:00.

In polling station # (11) in El-Salam Elementary School, Saqullta district, Suhag Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported closing the station at 18:30.

In polling stations # (7 – 10) in the Agriculture Association School in Senhoor, Dessuq district, Kafr El-Shiekh Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported closing the station at 17:00.

In polling station # (5) in Ibn-Haun Elementary School, Dessuq district, Kafr El-Shiekh Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported closing the station at 18:00.

In the polling station in El-Sadat Elementary School in Haram, Giza Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported closing the station at 18:30.

In the polling station in Othman ibn Affan School, Omraneya School, Giza Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported closing the station at 18:30.

In the poling station in El-Ikhlas School, Giza Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported closing the station at 18:30.

In the polling station in El-Harram Preparatory School, Omraneyya district, Giza Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reportes closing the station at 18:30.

In polling stations # (66 – 69), Shagaret El-Durr Elementary School, Giza district, Giza Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported closing the station at 18:30.

In the polling station in Ahmmadan School, South district, Port Said Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported closing the station at 18:30, as well as ballot stuffing at 19:00.

In the polling station in Abu Neshaba Preparatory School, El-Sadat district, Menufeyya Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported seeing 5 ballot
boxes full of ballots, however, only 300 voters out of 5850 voters actually voted.

In polling stations # (32 – 27), Nazlet Sallam Elementary School, El-Saff district, Giza Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported closing stations at 18:30.

In the polling station in Warraq El-Arab Elementary School, El-Warraq district, Giza Governorate, EASD and ECDDS observers reported closing the station at
18:30.

COUNTING PROCESS

EASD reiterates that elections cannot be viewed as transparent, free nor fair without meaningful election monitoring by independent entities, such as NGOs, as well as candidate agents. Both EASD observers and candidate agents were consistently denied access to observe the voting and counting processes in violation of EGypt’s legal framework on elections. EASD calls on election authorities to investigate the gross violation of observers’ rights.

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Released April 8th, 2008