Judges Club spokesperson Mahmoud al-Sherif said that the club’s operation room spotted irregularities in the work of judges supervising polling stations. “Certain judges directed voters to vote against the constitution,” he said. “We have informed the High Elections Commission of these irregularities.”
Sherif also said turnout exceeded 70 percent on the first day of the referendum.
What does the operation room do?
It facilitates communication with and among judges supervising the voting process. It also communicates with the operating rooms of the armed forces and the Interior Ministry.
What did it do on the first day of the referendum?
It ensured that judges arrived at polling stations and opened them on time.
What else?
It observed a high turnout of citizens, some clashes outside stations, Brotherhood supporters trying to prevent voters from reaching the stations, and irregularities in certain judges' actions, such as directing citizens to vote against the constitution.
We reported all these incidents to the High Elections Commission which in turn replaced the reported judges.
We also found that certain stations were not opened on time and others were closed before the deadline, which we also reported to the commission.
Which judges were excluded from supervising the referendum?
Before the referendum, all judges who had political orientations were excluded. And after the referendum, those who tried to sway voters were replaced immediately.
When judges sway voters, does it mean they are involved in politics?
Showing affiliation to a certain political faction means involvement in politics.
What will happen to those judges?
We will drop their membership in the club.
What are the main problems facing the judges?
The high turnout, overcrowding, difficulty in casting votes, and the inadequate number of stations in certain governorates. We hope the commission will avoid those problems in the future.
Did Coptic voters face problems like last time?
No. There were no attempts to prevent them this time.
What do you think of the securing measures?
I salute the army and the police for that. They have thwarted an attempt by Brotherhood supporters to prevent voters from reaching the stations in Imbaba.
How was the turnout on the first day?
It exceeded 70 percent, but we must wait until the end of the referendum to determine the exact figure. Also, women’s participation was high. I expect more turnout tomorrow.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
