A number of Egyptian rights groups have asked for the first round of the referendum on Egypt’s new constitution to be repeated due to violations that marred it.
In a press conference on Sunday, the groups listed these violations:
. Lack of judicial supervision
. Disallowing civil society members from watching over the counting of ballots
. Allowing members of the Freedom and Justice Party to enter polling stations with official passes
. Unstamped/unverified ballots
. Religious slogans/demonizing those who do not approve of the draft constitution
. Deliberately delaying the vote at some polling stations of women, to deprive them from participation
. Putting under siege the headquarters of two parties that are members of the main opposition coalition (calling for a “no” vote)
. Lack of phosphoric ink – used to prevent voters from casting more than one ballot
. Closing of some polling stations before the due time
. Collective vote at some polling stations