Egypt nullifies initial voting round in 19 constituencies over electoral breaches

Egypt’s National Elections Authority (NEA) has invalidated the first phase of the 2025 parliamentary elections in 19 constituencies after uncovering irregularities that undermined the integrity of the process.

NEA head Hazem Badawi said on 18 November 2025 that the violations—ranging from unauthorized campaigning near polling stations to discrepancies in vote tallies—constituted fundamental flaws warranting cancellation.

The affected constituencies span several governorates, including Giza, Fayoum, Assiut, Sohag, Qena, Alexandria, and Beheira. Fresh elections will now be held abroad from 1–2 December and domestically from 3–4 December, with results expected on 11 December. Run-offs are scheduled between 24 and 28 December, with final outcomes to be announced on 4 January 2026.

Badawi reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to neutrality, transparency, and upholding international electoral standards as the country advances toward the second phase of the polls. His assurances follow President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s call for meticulous scrutiny of complaints arising from closely contested constituencies.

The NEA has so far received 88 appeals across 70 districts, with 34 still under review. Despite the setbacks, the National Unified List secured more than five percent of votes in both list-based constituencies during phase one. As Egypt prepares for phase two—scheduled for 21–25 November—the authority has urged all stakeholders to respect legal frameworks and prioritize the nation’s democratic aspirations.