egypt-final-presidential-elections-2012

The Carter Center
Presidential Election in Egypt
Polling and Voting Operations 152
Access to Polling Centers: Polling centers were
generally considered accessible and free of interference,
with good queue management outside the
center, for both rounds of polling. During the first
round of voting, however, witnesses reported that in
approximately 10 percent of polling stations visited,
they encountered active campaigning. During the
second round of voting, this dropped to less than
5 percent of stations, perhaps partially reflecting the
fact that there were only two candidates contesting
the second round vote.
Candidate Agents and Domestic Witnesses: The
presence of candidate agents was reported in nearly all
polling stations during opening, polling, and closing
during both rounds of voting. 153 Egypt respected and
fulfilled its obligation to protect the right of candidates
to be represented
at polling stations by
duly appointed agents,
an essential safeguard for
transparency. 154 However,
the low representation of
domestic witnesses was
notable. Carter Center
witnesses reported seeing
their domestic counterparts
in about 10 percent of polling stations visited in
the first round, with even a lower percentage present
during the second round.
Few restrictions were placed on candidates’
agents and witnesses at polling stations. There was
a small minority of polling stations in which the
judge or security officials blocked agents or witnesses
from fulfilling some of their duties or engaged in
intimidation.
Infrequent yet persistent interference by candidate
agents in the electoral process was cause for concern.
Although the general trend of uninterrupted access
and robust participation of candidate agents in the
electoral process was positive, more attention should
be paid to candidate agents’ own interference with
the process. Carter Center witnesses reported that
53
Poll workers check for a voter’s name on the list on
June 16, 2012.
Polling centers were generally considered
accessible and free of interference, with
good queue management outside the
center, for both rounds of polling.
in almost 5 percent of the polling stations visited,
the candidate agents inappropriately performed some
of the duties of the pollworkers, such as applying
seals to ballot boxes,
carrying ballot boxes, and
providing voter information
in polling stations. It
should be noted that this
interference did not seem
intended to obstruct the
process and, in no case,
was alleged to constitute
attempted electoral fraud.
Yet it is important that
electoral administration activities are carried out
only by election staff, an important safeguard that
promotes confidence for the electorate in the independence
and competence of election authorities.
152 During the elections, there were widespread media reports that
security forces were voting illegally, that pens with magic or invisible ink
were being used during the second round to invalidate votes or to allow
multiple voting, and that pre-marked ballots were being issued to voters.
The Carter Center mission has no evidence that these alleged incidents
occurred or had any impact on the results of the election.
153 During polling across the two rounds, candidates’ agents were not
present in less than 5 percent of polling stations visited by Carter Center
witnesses. During the second round of voting, Carter Center witnesses
reported that 98 percent of stations visited had at least one Morsi
candidate agent, and 84 percent had at least one Shafiq candidate agent.
154 AU, African Union Declaration on the Principles Governing
Democratic Elections in Africa, Article 7
Maurice Chammah