CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian authorities pressed for a high turnout on Tuesday on the second day of a presidential election expected to give President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi a sweeping victory in the absence of real competition, in a contest dismissed by critics as sham.

A voter's finger is marked with ink inside a polling station during the second day of the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt, March 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

In an effort to enthuse voters, the state news agency reminded Egyptians that voting is mandatory and those who do not vote, face a fine of up to 500 pounds ($28) - a sanction that in previous elections has not been enforced rigorously.

“I expect turnout and participation to increase in the coming hours, and I call on Egyptians to go out and vote,” said Prime Minister Sherif Ismail.

Sisi says he is seeking a second term to repair the economic damage from years of political turmoil, defeat Islamist insurgents and revive Egypt’s role as a pre-eminent Arab power.

His only opponent is an obscure politician loyal to Sisi. More serious challengers were forced to step down and several opposition politicians called for a boycott of the vote, saying repression had removed credible challengers.

But authorities hope that over three days they can mobilize a strong turnout. The president still has many admirers, although austerity measures in recent years and a fierce crackdown on Islamists, secularists and liberals have reduced that support.

Brigadier General Ali Hareedi, head of the central elections operations room, said the first day of voting produced a high turnout “which proves the Egyptian people’s awareness”. He gave no figure.

Pro-Sisi media said voters were flocking to ballot centers.

“Millions of voters gather in front of polling stations... and rejoice in every square,” ran a headline in the newspaper Al-Akhbar.

Two sources monitoring the election, including one from the National Election Commission, said about 13.5 percent of 59 million eligible voters had cast ballots on Monday.

At a polling station in Fayoum, a bastion of Islamist support 100 km (60 miles) south of Cairo, an election official put the turnout at 25 percent, only to be quickly corrected by an army officer who said “over 50”.

One 55-year-old civil servant said she had voted partly because her employer had encouraged her to, but also because “there’s security now, it’s not like Iraq, Syria or Yemen”.

Her husband did not vote though. “He’s not happy about the economy. We hope it will improve, but God only knows. Not everyone is voting because not everyone is convinced (by Sisi).”

SISI VOTERS SEEK STABILITY

Sisi, who in 2013 led the military overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, took 47 percent of the vote when he was first elected, in 2014.

The political risk consultancy Eurasia Group said if the government failed to mobilize voters and publicly admitted to a turnout of below 40 percent, “Sisi would come out of the elections weakened and more vulnerable to domestic pressure”.

That seems unlikely, the consultants said, but Reuters reporters found the pace of voting leisurely.

The election aroused little interest in Cairo’s working-class districts. And at three voting centers in middle-class Dokki, no queues formed and voters were coming in at about one every five minutes.

Most people voting for Sisi defended his economic policies and his suppression of political plurality. The blamed their woes on the Brotherhood, saying it had created instability and high inflation that had scared off tourists and investment.

Saeed Mohieddine, 67, a retired employee, said: “I voted for Sisi for the things he has achieved. He crushed terrorism, built new cities and started new development projects.

“Inflation started six years ago during the Brotherhood days; Sisi didn’t find anybody to stand against him,” he said. “Not everything can be done at once. The country needs to get going.”

Ahmed Adel, a 50-year-old stockbroker, said he had voted for Sisi because he had brought stability and security.

“I can now walk in the street feeling secure,” he said.

HESITANT

Only two people at polling centers hesitated to say who they had voted for as security men kept a close watch.

The election commission has said the vote will be free and fair, and Sisi said he would have liked more candidates to run.

Sisi has said he will not seek a third term, but critics expect him to scrap a two-presidential term limit.

At a polling station in the Nile city of Beni Suef south of Cairo, a judge said 510 voters out of the registered 3,592 had cast their votes by 10 a.m. (4 a.m. ET) on Tuesday.

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Faten Othman, 40, a teacher, said she had spoiled her vote. “Nothing good has been done,” she said. “(There are) high prices ... and whoever speaks goes to jail.”

But a Muslim cleric in Beni Suef, Mohammed Abdul Sattar, said people should support Sisi. “Participating in the elections is a religious duty and a duty imposed on every man - whoever doesn’t vote or participate is a sinner,” he said.

In Fayoum, an official at a polling station said that, by mid-afternoon on the second day, nearly 1,500 out of more than 7,000 registered voters had cast their ballots.</s>CAIRO - Egypt began the second of a three-day presidential election on Tuesday with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi set for an easy victory after authorities urged people to cast their ballots to provide a strong mandate for the former military commander.

Sisi faces just one challenger, who is expected to barely register against the incumbent, whom he supports. Critics have slammed the election as a charade after more serious challengers were forced to step down.

Egyptian authorities hope that three days of voting will be enough to produce a decent turnout for Sisi. The president still has many supporters, but his austerity measures in recent years and a fierce crackdown on security have eroded some support.

Egypt’s election commission said the election would be free and fair, and Sisi said he would have liked more candidates running.

Polls opened on Monday, with those who cast ballots saying they were voting for stability.

Sisi, an ex-general who in 2013 led the military overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, is trying to defeat Islamist insurgents in the Sinai Peninsula and complete a series of mega-projects inaugurated with great fanfare since he came to power.

Sisi has said he will not seek a third term, but critics expect him to remove a two-presidential term limit.

He won nearly 97% of the vote in 2014, but less than half of eligible Egyptians voted, even though the election was extended to three days.</s>Shoppers and children return to the streets of Aleppo as a ceasefire between government troops and rebel forces enters its third day. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).</s>Election Day is just days away, but don't worry, there's still time to beat the lines at the polls!

Voters in Lucas and Wood County can cast their vote early all the way up to Election Day.

The Lucas County early voting center is located at the Ohio Means Jobs building between 13th and 14th at 1301 Monroe Street.

The Wood County early voting center is located at the Wood County Board of Elections building at 1 Courthouse Square, Bowling Green, OH 43402.

Hours at both locations are:

On Election Day, the early voting center will officially be closed, and people will have to check the Board of Elections website to see where their specific voting precinct is.

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Copyright 2016 WTOL. All rights reserved.</s>TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - Voters have until Monday to cast their early votes for the election.

Initially, Ohio Secretary of State John Husted wanted to keep early voting polling locations closed the three days before Election Day.

In the 2008 election, over 100,000 Ohioans took part in early voting in the three days leading up to election day.

According to the Secretary of State's office, early turnout numbers show Ohio early voting is up almost 25 percent statewide.

All early voting centers will be open on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Monday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.</s>Egypt begins second day of voting as Sisi coasts towards victory

Egypt began the second of a three-day presidential election on Tuesday with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi set for an easy victory, after authorities urged people to cast their ballots to provide a strong mandate for the former military commander, Reuters reports.

Sisi faces just one challenger, who is expected to barely register against the incumbent, whom he supports.

Egyptian authorities hope that three days of voting will be enough to produce a decent turnout for Sisi. The president still has many supporters.

Egypt’s election commission said the election would be free and fair, and Sisi said he would have liked more candidates running.</s>* GENSOURCE ENTERS INTO SECOND MOU FOR POTASH OFF-TAKE WITH STRATEGIC NORTH AMERICAN AGRICULTURE COMPANY

* GENSOURCE POTASH - MOU IS FOR PURCHASE OF 100% OF PRODUCTION FROM ONE OF CO’S POTASH PRODUCTION FACILITIES TO BE LOCATED IN CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN

* GENSOURCE POTASH CORP - PRODUCTION FROM THE POTASH PRODUCTION FACILITY TO BE LOCATED IN CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN IS PLANNED AT 250,000 TONNE/YEAR Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:</s>Voting has begun in Egypt's presidential election, a contest which is expected to give incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi an easy win and a second term as he faces almost no opposition.

Polls opened at 9am local time on Monday on the first of three days of voting.

Sisi cast his vote in Cairo as the polls opened, state TV reported.</s>Pennsylvania's Governor Tom Wolf has announced a voting reform plan. It's called the 21st century voting reform plan and includes same day and automatic voter registration, along with modernizing absentee voting, ending gerrymandering, and enacting campaign finance reform to reduce the influence of special interests in Harrisburg.</s>The polls are open in Ohio. Wednesday was the first day for early voting and so far hundreds of people have cast their ballots in Toledo.

Lucas County Board of Elections says more than 630 people cast their ballots by 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. Deputy Director LaVera Scott says, "When we opened we had 50 people, close to 50 people outside, waiting to come in and vote. And it's just been consistent all day."

Voters say it's a historic election and they're encouraged by the turnout they saw at the poll.

"This year, I have absolutely no doubts and I'm eager to get on the record supporting my candidates," says voter Paula Ross. Voter Sherry Gilbert says, "I've never felt so much drive to go out and vote before. I've voted, but I've never had that drive before."

The Board of Elections says absentee ballots are also now going out and it's important to request one now, if you need one.

"Want to ask people not to wait til the last moment because we want to make sure we have time to get the ballot mailed to them and for them to get the ballot mailed back to us," says Scott.

Absentee ballots must be back to the board of elections by November 8th.

Click here to see the calendar for Early Vote Center Hours.



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Copyright 2016 WTOL. All rights reserved.
Voting enters the second day.