Before the legislative election was put on hold and with accreditation from the High Election Commission, Democracy International (DI) began an election observation mission. This was to be DI’s third international election observation mission to Egypt, building on comprehensive DI missions for the constitutional referendum in January 2014 and for the presidential election in May 2014.

In February 2015, DI deployed a core team of nine subject-matter experts and political analysts to Egypt. In addition to this core team, DI also planned to deploy observers throughout the country before each election day to observe electoral proceedings. DI held more than 50 meetings with government entities, civil society organizations (CSOs), political parties and movements, independent candidates, international organizations, and embassies. Team members met with stakeholders in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Luxor, and Qena governorates.

This report presents Democracy International’s observation and analysis of Egypt’s House of Representatives electoral process. DI observers were present in Egypt from February-May 2015 when DI suspended its in-country observation activities. The report covers the period from candidate registration until after the announcement of the delay in the electoral process, including part of the important recent legislative amendment process. DI plans to return to continue its observation of the process as soon as a new electoral timeline is announced. So far on this mission, DI has found that unless there are significant changes, it appears that only a narrow range of voices will likely be heard in the upcoming legislative elections, when they finally take place.