Egypt 2014 Election

The candidates: Hamdeen Sabahi on the left, and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the right.
(image obtained via Google image search)

So we're now on our third day of Presidential election voting here in Egypt; what was originally planned as a two-date vote process received a third day of eligibility last night from the Presidential Elections Commission (PEC).

The PEC says that this was to encourage voters to still have time to go to the polls.  However, both candidates have filed complaints at the extension (Sisi's complaint / Sabahi's complaint)

Low voter turnout is perceived by various members of global media as a black eye to the democratic process and/or the events of the last year.  Some media, Al Jazeera network, have offered very critical commentary that the low turnout is a vote of no confidence in el-Sisi's leadership in the past year (keep in mind that AJ has a journalist team still imprisoned and in the midst of a trial in Egypt).

Again, reactive or agenda-based journalism may be misinterpreting or at least skewing the reality of the situation in Egypt.  There has been an overwhelming sense from the beginning that if el-Sisi would run for President, he would win in an overwhelming fashion--that has been acknowledged by supporters, opposition, and detractors.  There, of course, are accusations that this was the military's intent from the beginning and that they will rig the results to reflect this overwhelming support; and even that the third day of voting is to give time for the voter fraud.  Conspiracy theories run rampant.

And there are those who are boycotting rather than vote for opposition candidate Sabahi - why?  Because even these abstaining feel that there is no way Sisi loses, so let a low turnout speak against him rather than the ballot box--this does reflect a lack of confidence in the democratic system.

But, this lack of confidence has been there in elections for many years in Egypt.  A part from the first Presidential election after the 2011 Revolution (that was 2 different stages of votes), from our unprofessional observation in the last couple years, low turnout appears to be consistent with Egyptian politics.  There is a resignation by the average citizen that what will be, will be -- regardless of participation in the process.

The voting on the streets and squares seems to carry more weight than voting at the polls.  And this is probably a greater indicator of people's feelings at this stage of the process.  Though there has been low voter turnout over the last two days, you are not seeing a lot of turnout at demonstrations against the vote or Sisi - and there are multiple demonstrations, but they are not overwhelmingly productive.  So, while the turnout at the polls is low, the other vote on the streets is at least as equally low.

There is a legitimate concern that the lack of participation in voting at the polls today may mean a future vote on the streets if people do sense any improvement to their daily lives soon.  The lack of young people voting is indicative of this concern--they have been the key and leading participants to the 2011 Revolution as well as the Tamarod movement that led to Morsi's ouster during the summer of 2013--if they are unhappy and dissatisfied within one year's time, might we see a third popular, youth-led movement against whoever is in power?  With the exception of the unprecedented participation and results of the Tamarod movement last summer, there seems to have been a generational divide on what is good leadership for the country for many years.

Our unprofessional assessment from what we have witnessed as guests and observers in this country, still learning the history and complexities of what is the daily life of for millions of Egyptians struggling day to day, is this: wait and see; but for now, survive.  The daily needs for many Egyptians can not take time off from any opportunity to work to show up at an election that appears to have been won on the streets last June 30.  If they are working and able to make any income today, that is the priority because work and income have been at such a low level for so long.  The average Egyptian seems focused on the day, and hopeful that the stability will improve, then the economy with the return of foreign investment and tourism, and then serious changes can be undertaken in regards to eduction reform, infrastructure development, and/or debates on personal freedoms.  Those are big hopes while many live well below the poverty line, subsidies that make that existence possible are in jeopardy, millions of young adults are out of work, and pockets of violent opposition still seek to destroy life and property.

But we think that's closer to the reality than the reactive journalism or conspiracy theories propagated by the talking heads of the news networks.

So, with the majority of Egyptians, we will wait and see.  But, we will also pray that their daily lives sees the improvement they desire; that productive and effective leadership from a new President AND a new Parliament will lead toward a brighter and more prosperous future; that Egypt's beauty and grandeur will be restored.

#PrayForEgypt
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