Over 180,000 policemen have been assigned to secure the first stage of voting in Egypt's upcoming parliamentary elections on Sunday and Monday, a security source told state news agency MENA on Friday.
The source said that the police will take control of polling stations on Saturday, one day before polls open, in order to search them thoroughly to ensure there are no explosive devices.
On Thursday, the country's armed forces said that they would be deploying over 185,000 members to secure the elections in the 14 governorates that will cast their ballots.
Egyptians abroad will be able to cast their ballots at Egyptian embassies and consulates around the world on 16-17 October.
Polls open in Egypt on Sunday for the first stage of the elections, which includes 14 out of 27 governorates. Voters in the remaining thirteen governorates will vote in November.
A campaign silence began on Friday and will continue until Monday.
Candidates and party-based lists are not allowed to promote their programmes during the electoral silence.
Egypt's parliament – the House of Representatives – will be comprised of 596 members, 448 elected as independents and 120 from party-based lists. The remaining 28 seats will be filled by presidential appointees.
The country has been without a parliament since the previous legislature, elected in late 2011, was dissolved in June 2012, after a court ruled existing electoral laws to be unconstitutional.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi currently holds legislative powers.
Once a parliament is elected, its members will have to vote on all laws issued by El-Sisi and his predecessor, interim president Adly Mansour.
_______________________
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/161057.aspx
File Photo: Egyptian security forces [Reuters]