Counting of votes commences in Egypt as President Sisi leads race for another term

Vote counting began in Egypt on Tuesday evening after polls closed at 7 p.m. GMT. The National Elections Authority, which is responsible for organising the poll, said approximately 67 million Egyptians were registered to cast their ballots in the presidential election.

The NEA announced that it recorded an “unprecedented” turnout.

Former army chief Abdelfattah El-Sissi is running against three relatively unknown candidates: Farid Zahran, leader of the left-leaning Egyptian Social Democratic Party; Abdel-Sanad Yamama, from the Wafd; and Hazem Omar, from the Republican People’s Party.

Early results from the north African country indicate that the incumbent president is currently leading the race.

Voting in Egypt started on Sunday, while Egyptian expatriates cast their ballots in early December.

The cost of living is a top priority

The cost of living is a top priority for many voters who have seen their savings diminish in an economic crisis worsened by the devaluation of the official currency.

International observers have been critical of Egypt’s human rights record during Sisi’s rule, accusing the government of restricting political liberty during a crackdown in which rights groups claim tens of thousands have been imprisoned, many of them members of Mohamed Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood.

Foreign policy, particularly in the aftermath of the Israeli offensive in neighbouring Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis, is also a significant concern for some.

The results of the presidential polls are expected to be announced on Monday.

If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will take place on January 8-10.