Cairo: Egyptian ministers cast their votes on the first day of domestic Senate elections, Monday, August 4th, each at their designated polling station, urging citizens to participate actively in the national vote.
According to State Information Service Egypt, these ministers include the Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh ElHefny, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Local Development Manal Awad, Minister of Culture Ahmed Hanno, Minister of Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Mahmoud Fawzy, and Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy.
Additionally, the Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ayman Ashour, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Labour Mohamed Gobran, Minister of Public Business Sector Mohamed Shimy, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk, and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk also cast their votes.
Earlier on Monday, August 4th, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly participated in the voting process at their respective polling stations. President El-Sisi voted at the Martyr Moustafa Yousry Emeira School in Heliopolis, while Prime Minister Madbouly voted at the Egyptian-Japanese School in Sheikh Zayed City, Giza governorate.
From 9am to 9pm, eligible voters will cast their ballots at 8,286 polling stations across all governorates of Egypt, stated the National Elections Authority (NEA).
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) reported a few challenges faced on Monday morning during the early hours of voting, including overcrowding at several polling stations and complaints from polling staff in Dakahlia Governorate about the lack of fans amid the high temperatures. Campaign materials of a specific party were observed in front of a polling station, along with reports of 'shopping vouchers' being distributed inside, and some polling stations experienced delays in opening.