Latest news with #NationalElectionsAuthority
Al-Ahram Weekly
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt's National Elections Authority urges voters to use new app ahead of 2025 Senate elections
President of the National Elections Authority (NEA), Judge Hazem Badawi, called on eligible voters to download the authority's newly launched mobile app, 'National Elections Authority - Egypt,' and use it ahead of the 2025 Senate elections for locating polling stations or requesting a change of polling centre. The Egyptian National Election Authority (NEA) announced in a press release issued Sunday that its newly launched mobile application is now available for download via Google Play and App Store. First rolled out on Friday, the application provides comprehensive information about all electoral entitlements under the NEA's supervision. It also introduces a range of first-of-its-kind digital services designed to facilitate voter participation and streamline the electoral process. Among the app's key features is the ability for voters to request a change in their polling station—based on information retrieved through the app's inquiry feature—to one that is geographically closer to their place of residence as listed on their national ID. Another innovative service allows family members who are registered across multiple polling locations to submit a joint request to vote at the same station, provided their national ID addresses match. These services are intended to ease logistical challenges and encourage wider voter turnout. The NEA urged all eligible voters wishing to take advantage of these services to submit their requests via the mobile app or the official website no later than Tuesday, 15 July. The Authority described the application as a strategic step toward the digitisation of voter services, highlighting its role in enhancing transparency, improving data accuracy, and simplifying access to electoral updates. This digital shift is part of the NEA's broader commitment to integrating modern technologies in the service of the public and reinforcing democratic participation. The launch coincides with the detailed procedures governing the 2025 Senate elections, which the NEA officially released, including voting arrangements for Egyptians living abroad. Candidacy applications were accepted between 5 and 10 July. Appeals against nominated candidates are being reviewed from 14 to 16 July, with the final list scheduled for publication on 18 July, which also marks the start of the official campaigning period. The deadline for candidate withdrawal is 20 July, while electoral silence will begin on 31 July. Egyptians abroad will cast their votes on 1 and 2 August at embassies and consulates. Eligible voters must be registered and must present either a national ID card or a passport that includes their national ID number. Voting hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time, and special arrangements will be in place to support voters with disabilities. Voting within Egypt will be held on 4 and 5 August, with the final results expected to be announced on 12 August. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Gearing up for the Senate elections - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
Elections for the Senate will be held next month amid preparations among pro-government and opposition parties Candidate registration for Egypt's Senate (the upper house of parliament) elections will take place between 5 and 10 July. Voting for Egyptians living abroad will be on 1-2 August, and for those inside the country on 4-5 August. Polling stations will be open during election days from 9am to 9pm. The National Elections Authority (NEA) will receive nomination papers for candidates at the first instance courts during the five-day registration period daily from 9am to 5pm, except for the final day (10 July), which will be from 9am to 2pm. An initial list of candidates will be announced on 11 July, while campaigning will kick off on 18 July and continue until 31 July. The results of the Senate elections will be announced in the Official Gazette on 12 August. The run-off is scheduled to be held for Egyptians abroad on 25-26 August, and in Egypt on 27-28 August. The final results will be announced on 4 September. In a press conference on Tuesday, head of the NEA Hazem Badawi said an estimated 11,000 judges from the State Lawsuits Authority and the Administrative Prosecution Authority will take charge of supervising the polls. Representatives from civil society organisations, NGOs, international organisations, and media institutions will be allowed to monitor the polls. To be eligible to run, prospective candidates must undergo medical checks to show that they are psychologically capable of performing their duties as Senate members. Candidates are required to undergo these check-ups at hospitals and laboratories specified by the Health Ministry. Candidate application papers should include documents such as a curriculum vitae (CV) and a copy of a criminal record, if applicable. A candidate must also indicate whether he or she intends to run as an independent or as affiliated with a political party. The documents should also comprise financial disclosure statements from the candidate and his or her family, and a military service certificate or an exemption where applicable. Candidates will be required to pay a LE30,000 deposit as insurance. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi ratified two laws on 10 June regulating the elections to the Senate and the redrawing of its constituencies. The Senate shall consist of 300 members, two thirds of whom shall be elected by direct secret ballot, while the president shall appoint the remaining third (100 members) provided that no less than 10 of the total number of seats shall be allocated to women, the laws state. Egypt is divided into 27 districts designated for individual candidate elections (independents), while four districts will be reserved for electing candidates on closed party lists. Two of these districts are allocated 74 seats (37 each), and the other two districts are allocated 26 seats (13 each). The Senate elections come after parliament approved amendments to the election laws last month. The amendments stated that a mixture of two systems — the individual and the closed party list — would be adopted in the next parliamentary elections (for both the Senate and the House of Representatives). The amendments came under sharp attack from some political parties, which argued that there was no serious competition under the closed list system and that the election results would be a foregone conclusion. People could lose interest in the Senate elections and there would be a low turnout, they said. The closed list system means that a party that wins 51 per cent of the votes in any district takes all that district's seats. Some opposition parties said they wanted the adoption of a proportional list system in which each party list would be allocated seats in proportion to the votes it wins per district. Pro-government parties like Mostaqbal Watan (the Nation's Future) and Homat Watan (the Protectors of the Nation) said they are coordinating in preparation for the Senate elections. 'We and other political parties will seek to form a unified national list to contest the upcoming Senate elections,' said Ahmed Shalabi, the parliamentary spokesperson of Homat Watan. Meanwhile, the leadership of the parliamentary majority party of Mostaqbal Watan will hold a meeting this week to finalise arrangements for the upcoming Senate elections, with a focus on selecting candidates based on competence and integrity. Mustafa Kamel Al-Sayed, a political science professor and a member of the Civil Democratic Movement which includes several opposition parties, said the movement was monitoring developments related to the Senate elections but had not made a final decision regarding participation. The position is still under internal discussion, Al-Sayed said, given the objection to the closed list system implemented in some constituencies, which the movement does not view as reflecting pluralism. Al-Sayed said there was a trend within the movement in favour of participating in the elections in individual seats if a decision is made to run in the elections as a whole, especially since the chances of achieving winning results may be greater than through the lists, which are expected to be dominated by parties close to the government. He added that the movement faces challenges related to limited resources and a lack of an organised presence in some constituencies. However, he believes that participating in the elections could represent an opportunity for the movement to publicise its positions and expand its popular base, even if it does not achieve victory. * A version of this article appears in print in the 3 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Today
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Update- Egypt amends Parliamentary Election Laws
Voting process in Egyptian elections CAIRO – 22 May 2025: The House of Representatives' Legislative Committee, chaired by Counselor Ibrahim El-Hunaidi, approved on Thursday a draft law submitted by Representative Abdel Hadi El-Qasabi and over ten members of parliament. The proposed legislation seeks to amend certain provisions of Law No. 46 of 2014 and Law No. 174 of 2020 regarding the division of electoral constituencies ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections at the end of this year. It is worth noting that Secretary-General of the House of Representatives Counselor Ahmed Manaa stated that he received Thursday a response from Executive Director of the National Elections Authority (NEA) Ahmed Bandari, stating that the NEA Board of Directors had unanimously approved the two draft laws, in its session held on May 21, 2025. Under the current law, the House of Representatives comprises 568 elected seats, not including presidential appointees. Regarding the list-based system, there are currently two constituencies with 102 seats each, and two constituencies with 40 seats each, according to El-Qasabi. The number of seats allocated for individual candidates stands at 284. Proposed Amendments to the House of Representatives Law The new amendments propose that Egypt be divided into a number of constituencies designated for individual-seat elections, and four constituencies designated for list-based elections. Two constituencies will be allocated 40 seats each, and the other two will be allocated 102 seats each. Each electoral list must include a number of candidates equal to the number of seats in the constituency, along with an equal number of substitutes. Requirements for 40-Seat Lists: ● At least three Christian candidates ● Two workers and farmers ● Two youth candidates ● One person with a disability ● One Egyptian expatriate candidate ● At least 20 women among all candidates Requirements for 102-Seat Lists: ● Nine Christian candidates ● Six workers and farmers ● Six youth candidates ● Three candidates with disabilities ● Three Egyptian expatriates ● At least 51 women, including those with the above qualifications or others The list-based system may include candidates from multiple parties, independents, or a combination thereof. In all cases, the candidate's party affiliation—or independent status—must be clearly stated on the nomination papers. Candidates must submit their nomination documents within five days of the nomination window opening. Required documents include: ● Curriculum vitae ● Criminal record ● Academic certificates ● Military service certificate (for male candidates) ● Financial disclosures for the candidate, spouse, and children ● A deposit receipt of LE 30,000, payable to the state treasury Proposed Amendments to the Senate Election Law Separately, the Senate's Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee will also meet on Thursday to review a draft law submitted by Representative Abdel Hadi El-Qasabi and more than 10 MPs, proposing amendments to Senate Law No. 141 of 2020. The House of Representatives has referred the bill to the Senate for its opinion. The amendments suggest dividing Egypt into 37 constituencies for individual-seat elections, and four for list-based elections. Two of the list constituencies will be allocated 13 seats each, and the other two will receive 37 seats each. List Requirements: ● Each 13-seat list must include at least three women ● Each 37-seat list must include at least seven women Candidates must submit the following documentation: ● Curriculum vitae, highlighting academic and professional background ● Criminal record ● Declaration of party affiliation or independent status, including party name if applicable ● Financial disclosure for the candidate, spouse, and minor children ● University degree or equivalent ● Military service certificate or legal exemption (for male candidates) ● Deposit receipt of LE 30,000, payable to the treasury of the competent court ● Any additional documents required by the National Elections Authority
Egypt Today
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Egypt to amend Parliamentary Election Laws
Voting process in Egyptian elections CAIRO – 22 May 2025: The House of Representatives' Legislative Committee, chaired by Counselor Ibrahim El-Hunaidi, is scheduled to discuss on Thursday a draft law submitted by Representative Abdel Hadi El-Qasabi and over ten members of parliament. The proposed legislation seeks to amend certain provisions of Law No. 46 of 2014 and Law No. 174 of 2020 regarding the division of electoral constituencies ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections at the end of this year. It is worth noting that Secretary-General of the House of Representatives Counselor Ahmed Manaa stated that he received Thursday a response from Executive Director of the National Elections Authority (NEA) Ahmed Bandari, stating that the NEA Board of Directors had unanimously approved the two draft laws, in its session held on May 21, 2025. Under the current law, the House of Representatives comprises 568 elected seats, not including presidential appointees. Regarding the list-based system, there are currently two constituencies with 102 seats each, and two constituencies with 40 seats each, according to El-Qasabi. The number of seats allocated for individual candidates stands at 284. Proposed Amendments to the House of Representatives Law The new amendments propose that Egypt be divided into a number of constituencies designated for individual-seat elections, and four constituencies designated for list-based elections. Two constituencies will be allocated 40 seats each, and the other two will be allocated 102 seats each. Each electoral list must include a number of candidates equal to the number of seats in the constituency, along with an equal number of substitutes. Requirements for 40-Seat Lists: ● At least three Christian candidates ● Two workers and farmers ● Two youth candidates ● One person with a disability ● One Egyptian expatriate candidate ● At least 20 women among all candidates Requirements for 102-Seat Lists: ● Nine Christian candidates ● Six workers and farmers ● Six youth candidates ● Three candidates with disabilities ● Three Egyptian expatriates ● At least 51 women, including those with the above qualifications or others The list-based system may include candidates from multiple parties, independents, or a combination thereof. In all cases, the candidate's party affiliation—or independent status—must be clearly stated on the nomination papers. Candidates must submit their nomination documents within five days of the nomination window opening. Required documents include: ● Curriculum vitae ● Criminal record ● Academic certificates ● Military service certificate (for male candidates) ● Financial disclosures for the candidate, spouse, and children ● A deposit receipt of LE 30,000, payable to the state treasury Proposed Amendments to the Senate Election Law Separately, the Senate's Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee will also meet on Thursday to review a draft law submitted by Representative Abdel Hadi El-Qasabi and more than 10 MPs, proposing amendments to Senate Law No. 141 of 2020. The House of Representatives has referred the bill to the Senate for its opinion. The amendments suggest dividing Egypt into 37 constituencies for individual-seat elections, and four for list-based elections. Two of the list constituencies will be allocated 13 seats each, and the other two will receive 37 seats each. List Requirements: ● Each 13-seat list must include at least three women ● Each 37-seat list must include at least seven women Candidates must submit the following documentation: ● Curriculum vitae, highlighting academic and professional background ● Criminal record ● Declaration of party affiliation or independent status, including party name if applicable ● Financial disclosure for the candidate, spouse, and minor children ● University degree or equivalent ● Military service certificate or legal exemption (for male candidates) ● Deposit receipt of LE 30,000, payable to the treasury of the competent court ● Any additional documents required by the National Elections Authority
