Chief of Staff, Sami Anan, and other military council members recently met with parties’ heads to discuss the amendments
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has amended eight articles of the political participation law while two more have been added.
Article 5, which stipulated that two thirds of parliament would be elected through an electoral list system and one third filled by individuals, has been cancelled.
The anticipated parliamentary elections start in late November.
Below are the amended articles of the law:
Article 1: Articles 40, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, and 50 of the political participation law will be replaced by the following:
Article 40: Those who refuse to vote despite being registered on the database of voters will be fined up to LE500.
Article 49: The following infringements will result in prison time:
- Participation in elections or polls while having no right to do so.
- Impersonating another voter.
- Voting more than once in polls or elections. In this case, the Supreme Electoral Committee head has the right to declare the vote void.
Article 50: Stealing or damaging ballot boxes, or ruining their content, will result in jail time.
Article 2: Articles 50 (continued) and 50 (A) (continued) are added to the political participation law.
Article 50 (continued): Electoral campaigns based on religious slogans or sex or ethnic discrimination are banned, and whoever embarks on one will face at least three-months jail time and a LE500 to LE10,000 fine.
Article 50 (A) (continued): The general prosecution handles the crimes mentioned thereto and is entitled to detain the defendants pending investigations.
Article 3: Any verdict that goes against these regulations will be revoked.
Article 4: This statement will be published in official papers and will be effective the day after its publication.
Article 43: Verbal or gestural insults against the head or members of an electoral committee while working will result in prison sentences.
Article 45: Damaging facilities, buildings or media equipments during elections will result in prison sentences.
Article 46: Deliberately hiding or damaging a database or voters’ election cards will result in prison sentences.
Article 47: Registering names on the voters’ database through illegal means will result in prison sentences.
Article 48: The following crimes will result in prison sentences ranging from one to five years and fines of LE10,000 to LE100,000:
1- The use of force or threats to prevent someone from expressing an opinion in elections or polls, or to make a voter express a certain opinion.
2- Trying to persuade voters not to vote or to vote for a certain candidate or choice in return for something. The electoral committee head has the right to cancel such votes.
3- Accepting being involved in the aforementioned crimes.
4- Spreading rumours about elections, polls, or candidates with the intention to affect results.
5- Forgery of electoral cards or distributing them without official approval.
Short link: