Cairo – Many polling stations stood virtually deserted Monday as Egypt held a referendum on constitutional amendments that opponents have condemned as a sham and a setback to democratic progress.
Opposition parties called for a boycott of the referendum, but turnout was also hurt by widespread apathy and confusion over the changes, which were pushed to a public vote only a week after they were approved by parliament.
“I swear to God, I don’t know what I’m voting for,” said Hassan Abdel Salaam, a house painter casting his ballot at a Cairo polling station. “If I didn’t vote, maybe I would get into trouble. I have five children, and we live in one room.”
At several stations, the government bused in public employees to cast ballots. State media ran messages urging voters to turn out.
President Hosni Mubarak’s government has touted the changes as part of a campaign of democratic reform. But opponents say the amendments will only cement his party’s control, pointing to provisions they say will weaken monitoring of elections and allow vote-rigging.
One amendment will allow the suspension of civil rights, such as requirements for arrests and search warrants in terrorism investigations.
