CAIRO: Egyptians voted on Wednesday on the third day of a presidential election guaranteed to give a second term to Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, leaving turnout as the only contest.

Voters trickled into polling stations, even as authorities encouraged them to show up in high numbers. The election commission announced in the evening that voting was being extended by one hour, to 9.00pm (2100 GMT).

The commission earlier warned that it would implement a law fining people who do not vote 500 pounds (about $30), saying that not voting “serves the interests of people who hate the country”, state television reported.

Sisi won his first term in 2014, a year after the former army chief ousted his predecessor Mohamed Morsi following mass protests against him.

He won that election with 96.9 per cent of the vote, against a left-wing candidate. This time, his serious rivals withdrew citing restrictions, were sidelined or arrested. His sole rival is the little-known Moussa Mostafa Moussa, himself a Sisi supporter.

At some polling stations, voters were granted free meals. The source of the donations could not be verified.

At a press conference, an election commission official, Mahmud al-Sherif, said there had been no violations of Egypt’s election law.

Some 60 million people in Egypt were registered to vote on March 26, 27, and 28. Official results are expected on April 2.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2018