Egyptians began voting today in a presidential election set to deliver an easy victory for incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi over his rival - little-known politician and al Ghad party chief Moussa Mostafa Moussa.
The voting started at 9.00 am (local time) at all polling stations across the country. The polling stations are expected to close at 9 pm (local time).
In front of some polling stations, voters raised photos of President Sisi and chanted slogans like 'Long Live Egypt'.
President Sisi, 63, cast his vote in the election early today at the opening of the polling stations in Heliopolis.
Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, other ministers, judges and officials were among the first people to cast their votes.
Sherif urged Egyptians to cast their votes in the election. He also mentioned that he expects high voter turnout.
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"Egypt has passed through difficult economic situation and was targeted by terrorist attacks in the past, but in the coming four years, it will witness a notable progress," Sherif told reporters after casting his vote.
About 60 million people are eligible to vote in the election on March 26, 27 and 28, under the supervision of 18,678 judges from various judicial bodies and authorities. There are 13,687 polling stations across Egypt.
The result is expected to be announced on April 2.
President Sisi led the military's overthrow of Egypt's first democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi in 2013. He was sworn into office on June 8, 2014 for a four-year term.
His rival Moussa Mostafa Moussa, a longtime supporter of the president, emerged as a last-minute challenger.
Police and army forces were deployed across the country to secure the polling stations and armoured vehicles were stationed at several points around Cairo.
The Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center prepared a central operation room to allow Prime Minister Ismail to follow up the electoral process in all Egyptian governorates through video-conference.
Another operation room was set up in Alexandria city hall and equipped with video conference equipment and TV screens to follow up the elections and receive any complaints from the citizens, according to Alexandria Governor Mohamed Sultan.
The interior ministry also launched a hotline to receive calls from old people who want to cast their votes.
Senior voters and women made a significant turnout to polling stations during morning hours in Cairo's Sayyeda Zeinab, Old Cairo, other areas of the capital, as well as in Qalyubia governorate, local media reported.
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