Egypt's communication minister on Monday said the government is considering granting consuls abroad the authority to oversee voting by Egyptian expatriates during upcoming elections.
Communication and Information Technology Minister Maged Othman told reporters the move would come as per a decree by the justice minister, adding that Egyptians abroad should register at embassies and consulates.
Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Arrmed Forces (SCAF) had denied earlier news reports that claimed Egyptians abroad would not be allowed vote in the elections.
Othman said votes during the elections will rely on identification numbers instead of digital systems which, he said, remain vulnerable to fraud.
In his statements, which followed discussions with interim Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and Microsoft's Middle East and North Africa Vice President Ali Faramawi, Othman noted that the government was about to finish preparing electoral lists for each constituency.
The minister said digital voting machines would cost LE500 million. He said the government is considering manufacturing them locally for future use instead of importing them.
Othman's announcement marks a change in the Egyptian government's stance. Earlier, government officials had expressed interest in an e-voting system.
The same month, India's chief elections commissioner arrived in Egypt to discuss his country's experience with digital polling.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
