Review of groups hoping to ‘follow’ the referendum under way

Nabil Salib, chairperson of the High Elections Commission, denied media reports Wednesday that the committee has issued permits to associations and civil society organizations to “follow” the referendum on the draft constitution, scheduled for January 14 and 15. He confirmed, however, that a review of requests is under way.

He said that the committee received 108 requests from local organizations before the November 27 deadline. Of those, 67 meet the required conditions. Salib said that the total number of the staff from the 67 organizations numbers some 27,000, and that their papers are currently being examined to see if they meet requirements.

Salib pointed to two resolutions issued by the committee that allow and establish procedures for local organizations to follow the referendum and elections. Applicants for the permit must show their certificate, which licenses them to practice political development, human rights or democracy building work.

The committee chairperson emphasized the importance of following all decisions, laws and bylaws issued in regard to the referendum, adding that there will be penalties for any violations. The most common violations, Salib said, is campaigning inside polling stations and wearing badges that indicate a political affiliation.

The Atlanta-based Carter Center, which has monitored several of Egypt’s polls since the 2011 ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak, announced last week that it will send a team of electoral experts to assess Egypt's constitution-building process.

“The mission is limited in scope, and the Center will not deploy witnesses to assess the referendum voting days,” the statement said, clarifying that its mission has been approved by the High Elections Commission. The center did not monitor the last constitutional referendum, in December 2012.