Press Conference to Monitor the Final Day of the 2025 Senate Elections
Judge Ahmed Bendari, Executive Director of the National Election Authority and Head of the Central Operations Room, held a press conference with heads of general and sub-committees to follow up on the progress of the second and final day of voting in the 2025 Senate elections, particularly after the midday break and the renewed voter turnout.
Bendari opened the conference by offering condolences to an employee at Luxor Court and her husband, in a gesture reflecting solidarity within the judicial community.
During the meeting, officials reviewed updates from various governorates. In Suez, Judge Mohamed Assafi confirmed that all 41 sub-committees operated smoothly. In Minya, Judge Osama Abdel Moneim reported temporary overcrowding at some polling stations, which was addressed by increasing the number of staff. In Damietta, Judge Mohamed Qamar noted high turnout, with some stations running out of ballots, which were quickly resupplied to ensure smooth voting.
Bendari also announced that a sub-committee judge was injured and transferred to Dar Al-Salam Hospital. He was replaced by another judge to maintain judicial supervision. Additionally, Judge Mayada Said sustained an eye injury but insisted on completing her duties until the end of the voting day.
Vote Counting Procedures
Vote counting begins immediately after polls close at 9:00 PM, allowing the last voter present inside the polling station to cast their ballot. The head of each sub-committee separates individual ballots from list-based ballots, and a separate report is filed for each system in the presence of committee staff, candidate representatives, observers, and media personnel.
The sub-committee head then announces the official count, including the number of registered voters, number of actual voters, valid and invalid votes, and votes received by each candidate or list. The count reports and all voting materials are then submitted to the head of the general committee in each governorate.
The Importance of the Senate
The Senate is a consultative legislative chamber that provides input on draft laws, constitutional amendments, national development plans, sovereign treaties, and public policy matters referred by the President or House of Representatives.
Reinstated by the 2019 constitutional amendments, the Senate consists of 300 members: 200 elected (through individual and list systems), and 100 appointed by the President. Its role includes supporting legislative stability, ensuring social balance, and promoting equal opportunities in education, healthcare, and employment, while protecting fundamental rights and freedoms.
