Egypt's interior minister Mahmoud Tawfik said plans were laid out to secure the House of Representatives elections, slated at home for Saturday and Sunday.

Security forces will be deployed at vital locations countrywide, he added.

During a meeting on Thursday with the heads of security directorates to follow up on security preparations nationwide ahead of the elections, the minister called for providing a safe environment for voters.

Tawfik ordered security patrols nationwide during the elections and activating checkpoints at vital highways, read a statement by the ministry following the meeting.

The minister ordered increasing the number of female police officers to assist women voters.

He also urged officers to assist senior citizens and people with special needs, as well as to ensure people adhere to precautionary measures against the coronavirus during the electoral process.

"The ministry mobilises its capabilities to secure the election while maintaining full neutrality and non-interference in the electoral process," the statement quoted Tawfik as saying.

The elections are scheduled to take place in two stages between 21 October and 8 December.

The first stage covers 14 governorates and takes place from 21 October to 30 November.

The second stage covers 13 governorates from 4 November to 14 December.

Egyptian expats in 124 countries are casting their votes in the first stage between 21 and 23 October.

The 596-seat assembly will be filled via the individual candidacy system and closed party lists system equally, while 28 seats (five percent) will be named by the president, as per the recent amendments to the elections law.