Turnout in the first round of parliamentary elections continues to be low, despite efforts from officials to boost numbers on the second day of voting. Despite President Abdel Fattah El Sisi encouraging voters to “line up outside polling stations,” an initial tally of the votes from Sunday shows a voter turnout of 11 to 15 percent, state media Al Ahram reported. State news agency MENA quoted Prime Minister Sherif Ismail as saying the turnout on the first day was 15 to 16 percent and is likely to increase on Monday. After the elections were postponed repeatedly, polls opened in 14 provinces, including Giza, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Assiut, New Valley, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Aswan, Red Sea, Beheira, Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh on Sunday. Most of those who showed up to vote have been women and other citizens aged 60 or more, while those aged 18-21 recorded the lowest turnout rates. The turnout abroad was not much better; according to Aswat Masriya, the Egyptian embassy in Brussels recorded fewer than 20 voters over the two days of voting, while the HEC released a statement saying that only three individuals voted in New…
