Egyptians vote in long-awaited parliamentary election

Egyptians on Sunday began voting in the first parliamentary election since the military's 2013 overthrow of Egypt's first freely elected president and the election a year later of the general who removed him. 

Egyptians abroad began voting Saturday and will continue Sunday, the first of two days of voting in 15 provinces, including Cairo's twin city of Giza and the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria.

About 27 of Egypt's registered 54 million voters reside in the 15 provinces where voting is taking place Sunday.  

Voting in Egypt's 13 other provinces, including the capital Cairo, will be on Nov. 22-23. Each stage of the staggered vote will be followed by a runoff. 

Final results for the 596-seat parliament will be announced in early December. 

There is a general atmosphere strongly against public criticism of the government.

Many analysts and observers expect a low turnout despite President Abdel-Fattah's el-Sissi's call Saturday on Egyptians to come out and vote.  

"Line up in front of polling stations and plant with your votes the hope for a bright tomorrow for our new Egypt," said the soldier-turned-president in a televised address. 

Political parties — those that are eligible to run — are weak with little popular following.  They are also heavily disadvantaged by an election law, passed by presidential decree last year. The party list that wins an absolute majority will take all the seats in each district, making it harder for small parties to secure seats.

And there is a general atmosphere strongly against public criticism of the government, with many Egyptians seeking stability after years of turmoil that have devastated the economy.

The legislature is widely expected to support the policies of el-Sissi, who is struggling to revive an ailing economy and crush an Islamic insurgency while silencing domestic opposition and carving a high-profile role for Egypt in a turbulent Middle East.    

Political parties — those that are eligible to run — are weak with little popular following. They are hurt even more by the law governing how the election will be run. And there is a general atmosphere strongly against public criticism of the government, with many Egyptians seeking stability after years of turmoil that have devastated the economy.