Egypt’s National Election Authority (NEA) has approved dozens of NGOs to observe and monitor the upcoming presidential election due to take place in late March.
Egypt's electoral body announces list of approved election observers
Mahmoud Lasheen, NEA’s official spokesperson, told Egypt Today that 53 local civil organizations and nine international and Arab organizations have been accredited to observe and monitor the 2018 presidential election in which two presidential candidates have been officially announced for the presidential bid.
“The nine international organizations approved by the NEA are as follows: Ma’ona Association for Human Rights and Immigration, Yemen, America, Arab Organization for Human Rights, Libyan Academic Organization, Sweden Center for Human Rights, Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, Volunteers Association without Borders, the Ecumenical Alliance for Human Rights and Development, Assyrian Monitor For Human Rights and the International Center for Research and Human Rights in Brussels,” Lasheen added.
Lasheen added that the African Union, Arab League and COMESA are among six political entities also have been approved by the NEA to observe the election.
The NEA announced the 2018 presidential election timeline on January 8, announcing the final list of candidates on February 24.
The official candidates for the presidential election include the incumbent President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Al-Ghad party’s Moussa Moustafa Moussa.
Guidelines for election observers
Organizations applying for a permit to monitor the elections should be working primarily in the fields of election observation, human rights or support for democracy, in addition to enjoying a good reputation of integrity and objectivity.
Former experience with observing elections is a must.
Every organization should submit a report detailing what it observed after the election process is over. Observing organizations are prohibited from announcing any results until they are officially announced by the NEA.
The NEA has the right to revoke the permits of any organization at any time in case of breaching the aforementioned rules.
The NEA has the right to invite the chairpersons of any foreign agencies or commissions related to elections, embassies, international and regional unions to observe the 2018 presidential elections.
Voting will take place for three days starting March 26 domestically, while it will begin on March 16 for expatriates from 9 am to 9 pm in each country’s local time.
The winning candidate will be announced on April 2.
Sixty million eligible voters will cast their ballots in the election.