Frequently Asked Questions: 2014 Presidential Election in Egypt

Out-of-country voting for Egyptian citizens living abroad took place from May 15-19, 2014. Eligible voters were to elect a new President of the Arab Republic of Egypt for a four-year term. Egypt has been in a state of political transition since the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces stepped in to fill the political vacuum created by the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak's regime in February 2011. The first post-Mubarak presidential election held in May-June 2012 resulted in the election of President Mohamed Morsi, who assumed power on June 30, 2012. However, massive demonstrations erupted across Egypt against Morsi's administration, leading to his removal from power on July 3, 2013. A new transition roadmap was outlined, which included the suspension of the 2012 constitution and the appointment of interim President Adly Mansour. A constitutional referendum was held on January 14-15, 2014, during which amendments made to the suspended 2012 constitution were approved. Based on the new 2014 constitution's provisions, interim President Mansour declared that the presidential elections would precede parliamentary elections. The presidential election in Egypt is governed by various pieces of legislation, including the 2014 Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Law No. 73 of 1956 Regulating the Exercise of Political Rights and its Amendments, and Law No. 22 issued on March 8, 2014, regulating the presidential elections. The presidential election is also regulated by decrees issued directly by the Presidential Elections Commission. The President will be elected through direct universal suffrage, using a majority two-round system. A candidate must obtain an absolute majority (50 percent plus 1) of valid votes cast in order to be elected. Should such a threshold not be met by any of the candidates in the first round of voting, then a second round of voting (run-off) must be held between the two candidates with the largest number of valid votes. The powers and responsibilities of the new President are detailed in the constitution. Article 139 of the constitution declares that the President of the Republic is the head of State and of the executive branch. The President shall "care for the interests of the people, safeguard the independence of the nation and the territorial integrity and safety of its lands, abide by the provisions of the constitution and assume his authorities as prescribed therein." Upon assuming office, the President will undertake the roles and responsibilities of assigning a Prime Minister to form the government, setting the State's general policy, representing the State in its foreign relations, serving as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and appointing and dismissing civil and military employees and political representatives. The Presidential Elections Commission is responsible for administering the presidential election. The Commission issued decrees No. 12/2014 and No. 14/2014 declaring that the presidential election will take place in May 2014 and calling for Egyptians to participate. The Commission's roles and responsibilities include overseeing the electoral process, ensuring the integrity of the election, and announcing the results. Other State bodies, including the judiciary, also play important roles in the presidential election. The judiciary is responsible for adjudicating electoral disputes and ensuring that the election is conducted in accordance with the law.