Electoral violations including voter bribery were evident on the second day of voting in this year's parliamentary elections in Port Said. Candidates reported rivals backed by security forces and money, with complaints filed to authorities who declined jurisdiction outside polling stations. These incidents have fueled widespread condemnation of the election's integrity.
In the Port Fouad constituency, Yasser al-Badry Farghaly, a candidate from the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, reported witnessing violations by a rival "backed by security forces and money." He described the violations as manufacturing popular mobilization through distributing money to voters, especially young people. Farghaly declined to name the rival among the 11 candidates and filed a complaint with the polling station head and police, but authorities said they lacked jurisdiction outside the stations.
Farghaly added: "These tents everywhere don’t have permits. We want to know who set them up," referring to tents erected outside polling stations to accommodate mobilized gatherings. Mada Masr's correspondent in Port Fouad also saw a gathering collecting ID cards and distributing cards featuring Islam Falih, an independent candidate, before transporting voters in minibuses. One citizen said he had heard LE300 would be given to those returning the cards in exchange for their IDs.
In the Zuhour district, crowds of women and the elderly were observed, along with queues of young people outside Mahmoud Fouad School. MP Ahmed Farghaly, an independent seeking reelection, accused a candidate of using political money for bribery by sending people door-to-door to collect voter IDs in his name for LE300. He emphasized rejecting such practices and filed reports with authorities. The district features fierce competition between Farghaly and Al-Husseini Abu Qamar, a former leader in the dissolved National Democratic Party.
Polls closed at 9 pm on Tuesday for phase two, conducted across 13 governorates including Cairo, most of the Delta, and Suez Canal governorates. Several violence incidents occurred, such as an independent candidate storming a Damietta police station with campaign members, leading to the arrest of 13 individuals referred to Public Prosecution. Candidates in Shubra reported attacks by thugs linked to a constituency candidate. Phase one violations in 14 Upper Egypt, Alexandria, and Giza governorates prompted a rerun in a quarter of constituencies, amid widespread public and commentator condemnation.