Egypt extends election voting by one day

Egypt extended on Tuesday polling in the country for a third day, in a move that was met with objections from rival presidential runners Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Hamdeen Sabahi.

The Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission’s decision came a day after authorities declared Tuesday a public holiday in order to boost voter turnout that is seen as crucial to casting legitimacy on the electoral process.

Voting had originally been set for two days only – Monday and Tuesday.

The commission’s decision aims at giving voters more time to cast their ballots, according to an Al Arabiya correspondent.

The campaigns of both Sisi, a former army commander, and Sabahi, a leftist politician, objected to the commission’s decision.