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Press Statement (3)
Results of the Monitoring of the Public Referendum over the Constitutional Amendments
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26/3/2007
The Public referendum over the proposed constitutional amendments witnessed some practices and violations which negatively affected the will of the voters. Adding to this the general indifference shared by the public concerning the proposed amendments, as the average of voting in balloting stations all over Egypt recoded between 2-3% of voting among the registered voters. EOHR confirms that the absence of the judicial supervision over the whole voting process paved the way for the manipulation of the people's will, and raise suspicions around the fairness of the voting process. These violations can be summarized as follows:
First: Low participation
EOHR observers monitored the low participation of voters reaching to zero in some balloting stations. For example in Giza some stations recorded low number of voters ranging between 1-20 voters from total of 1000 to 1500 registered. These stations are; 15th May School stations (132, 133, 134 and 135), Taha Hussain School stations number (101, 102, 103) Nagah School (11, 9 and 12). In Cairo Helwan Primary School witnessed very low participation, as there were only 150 voters out of total of 6900 registered. In Helwan Secondary School, stations number (37, 38, 39, 41, 40, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42) where 14495 were registered, only 1500 voted. In Alexandria Kabbary constituency, stations number 51, 50, 49 and 48 recorded zero voters. In Marsa Matroh EOHR observers monitored Makarem Akhlak School, Shaheed Mannawy, Magmaa Abu Bakr, Matroh Secondary School, Matroh Club, Zaher Galal School, Magmaa Adel Lotfy and Quran Teaching School which all witnessed very low participation that ranged between 1-20 in stations where between 500-1200 are registered. In Kafr El Shaikh, EOHR observers monitored stations located in Desouq Agricultural School, Nasser School, Education Administration and Commerce School which witnessed also low participation where only 37 persons voted out of total of 1200. in Assiut, Station 64 in Awlad Elias village also witnessed very low participation, where only 20 voted out of 970.
Second: Pre-marked Balloting Cards
EOHR observers spotted representatives of NDP and employees of the government marking balloting cards in favor of the amendments which is considered a blatant forging of the voting results. Similar incidents were witnessed in Sarwo constituency in Demiatta, Lawzy Secondary School, Sayyid Meligy School, Zaatra School and Omar Noaman School in Zarkaa constituency. Same incidents took place in Dakahleyia and Assiut. There was another way of forging the voting process by announcing publicly that there will be a fine of 100 LE for those who will not vote. This happened in Sedfa constituency, Assiut.
In Assiut, vehicle of the government number 353 were seen transferring governmental employees to Esmat Afifi School to vote for the amendments. Representative of NDP were seen encouraging the voters to vote for the amendments.
In Marsa Matroh, some stations such as Sallom School, Sallom Municipality, Sadat School, Abu Zaid School and Dakdak Municipality witnessed some pressures exercised upon passengers from Egypt to Libya to vote for the amendments.
Third: Mass Voting
EOHR observers witnessed many incidents of mass voting. 6 Public buses where send in front of Mohamed Farid station in Helwan carrying public employees who were carrying banners supporting the amendments. The numbers of these buses were 92389, 92266, 90301 and mini-bus number 76576 and the same incident happened in Helwan Commerce School. In Giza, EOHR observers spotted an MP using the ignorance of people to force them to vote. One of the voters was asking the station's head whether to vote for the President of the Republic or for the member of the parliament !!. In Gharbia, EOHR observers spotted bus number 1864 transporting employees to vote in Kawmeyia School and Said Aryian School.
Forth: Preventing Civil Society Observers from entering Stations:
In Memaryia Station and Dar Salam Station in Basateen, the Chief Inspector of Basateen suspended the warranties carried by the observers of representatives of civil society organization and they where returned after one hour, however, they were not allowed to enter the station.
Fifth: Violations inside Balloting Stations
EOHR observers recorded many violations inside the balloting stations, such as bribes, lack of the phosphoric ink and banners in favor of the amendments. In Menia El Basal and Ghait el Enab in Alexandria, money and blankets were distributed among voters aiming to encourage them to vote for the amendments. EOHR observers witnessed banners supporting the amendments inside Nasr School and Mohamed Farid School at the constituency of Tanta. . Gharbia also witnessed mass voting, as workers at Tanta Company for Oil and Soup were taken to vote in favor of the amendments in Saber Refaiy School. In Qualiubyia, EOHR observers realized that there were no curtains in Shobra el Khaima School. In Kafr El Shaikh some stations didn't have the phosphoric ink, such as Desook Agriculture and Commercial School, Education Administration Building and Nasser School in Dakahlyia.
Sixth: Mistakes in Voting Lists:
The problem of voting list also existed in today's referendum, as the lists were not updated since the last elections of 2005. These lists are full of mistakes such as repetition of names, names of deceased and spelling mistakes. These mistakes disable the voters from giving their votes properly and affect their willingness to participate actively.
Seventh: Closing Balloting Stations before the voters:
EOHR observers spotted different incidents where stations were closed before the scheduled time preventing voters from voting. In Fayoum, Kafr Mahfouz School and Salah Salem School were closed at 2 pm. In Giza, Wehda Mahalia Station at Alwady village was closed before 7 pm, despite that the participation reached only 1%. In Demiatta, Kaf Saad School was closed at 11 am after forging the balloting cards in favor of the amendments.
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