Embassies worldwide report high turnout on first day of expat voting

Polling stations in Riyadh and Jeddah received 17,000 Egyptian voters on Thursday, the first day of expatriate voting for the presidential elections, reported the state-owned news site Ahram Gate.

Egyptian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Afifi Abdel Wahab told Ahram that the number of voters on the first day exceeded all expectations, but even more are expected to turn up on Friday.

"What we witnessed yesterday is evidence of the Egyptian people's awareness, and proof of its sense of responsibility and ability to handle hardship,” the ambassador claimed.

Expat voters also reportedly came out in robust numbers in France, reported the privately owned Al-Masry Al-Youm (AMAY), though even higher numbers are anticipated on Saturday and Sunday, the European weekend.

The Egyptian Ambassador to Sudan, Osama Shaltout, said voter turnout was also high there, thanks to improved facilities offered by the High Elections Committee (HEC) and the Foreign Ministry, which allowed voters to register with either identity cards or passports.

A delegation from the African Union arrived in Cairo on Friday to monitor the first round of voting within Egypt, slated to commence on May 26 and 27. The 43 observers are expected to meet with several government officials HEC representatives ahead of the polling, Ahram Gate reported.

The union had suspended Egypt's membership after former President Mohamed Morsi’s fall from power, describing the military's intervention as an "unconstitutional change of government." Some commentators see the presence of the AU delegation as a positive sign of improving relations.

The European Union has also deployed a delegation to monitor the elections process across the country.