The spokesman for the High Elections Commission (HEC) in Egypt Zaghloul Albalshi Cairo – Akram Ali The spokesman for the High Elections Commission (HEC) in Egypt confirmed that Secretary General of the HEC Zaghloul Albalshi will still preside over the second round of the Egyptian referendum to decide on President Mohammed Morsi’s draft constitution this weekend. Abu Shusha confirmed that Albalshi did not resign from his post as was reported yesterday, but was undergoing eye surgery instead.
In a press conference, spokesman Mahmoud Abu Shusha spoke out against reports of electoral violations in the constitutional referendum, confirming that the Commission allowed all civil society organisations to enter into their respective constituencies.
The body refutes complaints alleging up to 420 cases of electoral violations [including 120 about the lack of judges, 200 complaints concerning propaganda and 100 about unstamped papers] at polls across Egypt on Saturday. Six human rights organisations have already called for a “review and repeat” of the referendum\'s first stage.
He added that Albalshi requested an increase in the number of staff within committees to allow more citizens to cast their vote at the same time.
The electoral spokesman meanwhile confirmed that some results would be annulled after a few judges closed committees early, despite an extension of the voting time on Saturday.