Egypt: Aswan voters don traditional galabiyas in spirited start to 2025 Senate elections

Post Views: 4

On the first day of Egypt’s 2025 Senate elections, residents of Aswan brought a vibrant cultural flair to the polls, donning their traditional Upper Egyptian galabiyas as they gathered to cast their votes.

The scene outside the governorate’s election committees was one of festive democratic participation, with citizens embracing the moment as a celebration of their constitutional right.

Major General Dr. Ismail Kamal, Governor of Aswan, personally toured key polling stations to oversee final preparations for the two-day election process scheduled for August 4 and 5. His inspections spanned several venues, including Abdul Majeed Hussein Preparatory School for Girls, Mohamed Mounir Hussein Elementary School, Al-Aqqad Military Secondary School for Boys, and Aswan Advanced Technical and Commercial School.

Accompanied by Deputy Governor Major General Yasser Abdel Shafi and other regional officials, Kamal emphasized the crucial role of executive bodies in providing logistical and administrative support while maintaining strict neutrality. “The executive bodies must ensure an equal distance from all candidates to preserve the transparency and integrity of the electoral process,” he said.

Aswan governorate is home to 1,116,756 eligible voters, spread across 190 subcommittees and 189 polling stations, supported by eight general committees. Parallel to voting, awareness campaigns have been active on the ground, coordinated by the National Council for Women, civil society organizations, NGOs, and community leaders, all striving to boost citizen engagement.

Across Egypt, more than 68 million voters are eligible to participate, with polling open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 8,286 polling stations nationwide. The process is overseen by a formidable contingent of over 9,500 judges from the Administrative Prosecution and State Cases Authority, including 2,500 women, ensuring the elections’ fairness and transparency.

The Senate elections mark a pivotal moment in Egypt’s democratic calendar, with citizens across the country embracing their civic duty in large numbers, starting here in culturally rich Aswan.