The League of Arab States mission tasked with monitoring the 2024 presidential elections in the Arab Republic of Egypt and led by His Excellency Ambassador Khalil Ibrahim Al-Thawadi, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Arab Affairs and National Security Sector, held a press conference on 14 December at the General Secretariat's headquarters to release the mission’s preliminary statement.
The statement:
The preliminary statement of the League of Arab States mission.pdf
The League of Arab States mission monitoring the Egyptian presidential elections 2024
Preliminary statement
In line with the League of Arab States' commitment to supporting democracy and good governance in the Arab Republic of Egypt, and in response to an invitation from His Excellency Counsellor Hazem Badawi, Chairman of the National Election Authority, His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, directed the establishment of a mission to monitor the Egyptian presidential elections. Ambassador Khalil Ibrahim Al-Thawadi, Assistant Secretary-General, was appointed as the head of the mission. The mission comprised a diverse group of experienced observers representing 12 Arab nationalities: Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Comoros, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, and Morocco.
The mission's primary objective was to oversee all stages of the electoral process, relying on the following principles:
1. The legal framework governing the electoral process is anchored in the Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt, encompassing all relevant election-related laws and decisions issued by the National Election Authority.
2. The mission adheres to the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, which serves as a guiding framework for its activities and commitments.
3. The mission also considers the Development, Modernisation, and Reform Document, endorsed by the League of Arab States at the Tunisia Summit in 2004, along with the Arab Charter on Human Rights, as foundational documents influencing its observations and assessments.
4. The mission operates in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the National Election Authority, establishing a framework for cooperation and coordination during the electoral process.
The mission's observations cover various stages of the electoral process.
First: Legal Framework
The legal framework governing the electoral process demonstrated overall compatibility with the international electoral obligations outlined in the international treaties adopted by the Arab Republic of Egypt. It served as a substantial foundation for conducting valid elections. This framework encompasses the Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt, laws pertaining to the electoral process, and decisions issued by the National Election Authority. Notably, the legal framework remained largely unchanged compared to the preceding presidential elections in 2018.
Second: National Election Authority
The National Election Authority has garnered substantial experience through the successful organisation of numerous electoral events since its establishment. In preparation for the planned electoral event, the authority meticulously crafted a well-structured timetable, allocating ample time to each stage of the electoral process. To enhance accessibility for voters, the authority permitted changes in polling centres and proactively established dedicated electoral committees for voters from different governorates. This initiative significantly facilitated the exercise of the voter's electoral rights.
Third: Voter Registration
The Constitution explicitly outlines the right to vote, and the law ensures an automatic registration process for individuals meeting the voter requirements on the voter database. This database draws its information from the National ID database of the Civil Status Authority, encompassing over 67 million voters across more than 11,600 subcommittees nationwide. The voter registration process generally instilled confidence among voters, and the legal provisions allowed any individual who has reached the age of 18 and meets the requisite voter conditions to participate in elections. Consequently, the voting age in Egypt aligns with the global average voting age.
Fourth: Voter Awareness
Various stakeholders in the electoral process, including national councils, media outlets, and civil society organisations specialising in elections, actively engaged in voter awareness and education initiatives. The National Election Authority played a pivotal role in these efforts, exerting commendable endeavors to enlighten voters about the diverse means of accessing information about their polling committee. It also focused on motivating voters to participate and underscored the significance of exercising their constitutional right to choose their representatives. These awareness campaigns were notable for their inclusivity, targeting all segments of the Egyptian population. However, awareness regarding voting procedures was comparatively less robust, potentially attributed to the straightforward nature of the procedures for the presidential elections.
Fifth: Candidate Registration
The legal criteria for presidential candidacy were objective and rational. The nomination period spanned 10 days, within which the candidacy files of four individuals were submitted, and all submissions were accepted without any withdrawals or objections, as reported by the commission. Notably, the majority of the candidates held leadership positions within political parties, signaling the keen interest of Egyptian political parties in these elections and their eagerness to actively participate.
Sixth: Election Campaigning
The election campaigning phase, extending for approximately a month, unfolded in a serene atmosphere marked by mutual respect among candidates, from its initiation until the electoral silence. Throughout this period, candidates successfully conducted their election campaigning and associated activities, presenting their electoral programmes through various channels, including rallies, public events, television programmes, billboards, leaflets, and social media platforms. The mission observed vigorous campaigning efforts, particularly those orchestrated by supporters and advocates.
Seventh: Voting Days
Observers were strategically deployed in six governorates across the Republic: Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Port Said, Ismailia, and Fayoum. Over the voting days, mission teams visited a total of 507 polling stations, encompassing committees for expatriates, situated in 356 polling stations across the governorates. Throughout the three days of voting, observers diligently completed electronic forms and transmitted them to the operations room, where they were received and compiled in the form of charts and percentage statistics.
The mission's observations are summarised as follows:
1- Voting Days Procedures
The mission monitored the presence of judges, heads of polling committees, and their members across the majority of visited polling stations during the three days of voting. Notably, the mission observed their professionalism, impartiality, and transparency, along with their cooperative stance with observers. Their commendable understanding of the polling day procedures was evident. The mission commends the crucial role of judicial supervision in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. Additionally, it applauds the noteworthy representation of women as chairpersons or members in 85 percent of the visited polling stations and the inclusion of individuals with special needs among polling station staff, marking a significant milestone.
The mission reported that most polling stations it visited adhered to the legally specified opening time at nine o'clock in the morning, some with the presence of candidate representatives. While there were occasional delays in closing times, these were mainly to ensure that voters inside the polling stations had the opportunity to cast their votes. The mission documented the accuracy and integrity of voting procedures in an impressive 99 percent of the visited polling stations.
Regarding the counting process, some observers faced restrictions preventing them from following these procedures. However, teams that were able to oversee the processes reported a calm and organised atmosphere, complete transparency, and the presence of candidate representatives or local observers in 80 percent of the observed committees. The mission recognised adherence to legal procedures during the counting process, with the posting of result copies outside the majority of the counting committees it visited. Importantly, no complaints were recorded during the counting process.
2- Election Tools
The mission observed the secure and ample availability of essential election tools in the polling stations it visited. The ballot card was designed with clarity and ease of understanding, enabling voters to identify candidates through their name, electoral symbol, or photo. Notably, the mission witnessed the use of Braille ballot cards by visually impaired voters in several committees, underscoring the authority’s commitment to ensuring clear voting options for diverse voter categories.
The small size of the ballot paper was instrumental in maintaining the confidentiality of the vote. Mission observers also noted that the placement of the polling booth, for the most part, allowed the committee head to detect any unusual voter behaviour. The mission documented that the polling booth effectively ensured the secrecy of the vote in 92 percent of the observed committees. The use of phosphorescent ink was particularly noteworthy for its role in reducing instances of multiple voting.
3- Securing Committees, Local and International Observers, and Candidate Delegates
The mission noted a significant presence of security forces in the vicinity of the visited polling centres, ensuring their safety during the voting days and safeguarding the ballot boxes during closure periods. The security forces cooperated by permitting entry for League of Arab States mission teams into the polling stations in the majority of cases.
Furthermore, the mission's observers reported a limited presence of local or international observers in the polling stations they visited, with a more substantial representation of candidate delegates, constituting over half of the observed polling stations.
4- Turnout and Electoral Silence
The electoral atmosphere was consistent across various regions where the mission was present, with the mission documenting a notable turnout at polling stations from the early hours of the morning. This trend was particularly pronounced in several centres visited over the three days, showcasing the commitment of Egyptian women and the elderly to exercise their electoral rights. The mission also observed the active participation of young people during the evening period of voting days and in expatriate committees, which experienced a significant surge in turnout. Overall, the mission recorded a moderate to heavy turnout at polling stations in 76 percent of the observed locations.
The mission's observers noted the persistence of some aspects of electoral campaigning outside 17 percent of the polling stations in the governorates they visited. This occurrence may be attributed to a lack of sufficient awareness regarding the regulations and rules governing the electoral silence period.
5. The Elderly and People with Special Needs
The mission commends the efforts undertaken by the national councils and the governorates of Egypt where it was present. It observed the facilities provided to the elderly and people with special needs in the visited centres, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity by accommodating these societal groups. This inclusivity was evident in the equipped electoral headquarters and the implementation of measures to facilitate their voting process. However, the mission did observe some polling stations located on upper floors, presenting a challenge for these voters. Nevertheless, committee heads and their assistants stepped in to provide assistance in such cases.
6. The Media
The media played a constructive role in encouraging voter participation, providing voters with ample information. The media generally adhered to legal guidelines and covered the candidates' election campaigns without hindrance. The media demonstrated a strong presence in the electoral landscape, with various print, audio, and visual outlets, both national and international, fulfilling their roles in covering polling day activities across numerous polling stations around the clock.
In this context, the League of Arab States mission affirms that the presidential elections were conducted in accordance with the legal framework governing the electoral process. The elections allowed Egyptian voters to freely exercise their electoral rights. Consequently, the mission expresses satisfaction with the effective preparation, organisation, and the calm and orderly atmosphere during the elections. The mission will issue a comprehensive final report, including detailed observations and recommendations, after the conclusion of the appeals period and the announcement of final results. This report will be submitted to His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, for subsequent submission to relevant authorities in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Finally, the League of Arab States mission extends deep appreciation for the cooperation of the National Election Authority, led by His Excellency Counsellor Hazem Badawi, which facilitated the mission and contributed to its success. The mission also expresses gratitude to all parties that supported its work, including the National Council for Human Rights, the National Council for Women, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, and the governors of Cairo and Alexandria. Special recognition is given to the eminent judges who supervised the electoral process.
