CAIRO, Nov.23 (Aswat Masriya) – Elections abroad saw a turnout of 37,168 voters, an increase of about 22 percent compared to the first phase, said the head of the committee and deputy foreign minister Hamdy Loza Monday.

According to the Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC), the total number of Egyptian expatriates who voted in the first round of the first phase of legislative elections was 30,531 in 139 embassies and consulates across the world.

The number of Egyptians living abroad is estimated at 8 million.

The elections abroad started on Saturday and ended Sunday evening.

SEC’s spokesman Omar Marwan said Sunday that the commission received 140 complaints until Sunday’s afternoon, mainly tackling delays in starting the electoral process, inability of some voters to reach their constituencies and campaigning irregularities.

He pointed out that the commission met with a delegation comprised of representative from 10 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, South America and visited various constituencies.

The second phase of elections covers 13 province: Cairo, Qalyubia, Daqahliyah, Menoufia, Gharbia, Kafr el-Sheikh, Sharqiya, Damietta, Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, North Sinai and South Sinai will head to the polls in the ongoing phase.

Marwan said in a press conference Sunday evening that Daqahliya, Qaliubiya, Sharqiya, Menoufia and Gharbia are seeing the highest turnout.

The elections are taking place inside Egypt over the course of Sunday and Monday, where a total of 28.2 million citizens are entitled to vote. 

The first phase was marked by a low turnout where international and local media outlets noted the general voter apathy, especially among youth.

It covered 14 provinces including Giza, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Assiut, New Valley, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Aswan, Red Sea, Alexandria, Beheira and Matrouh. 

The number of eligible voters in the first phase was 27.4 million. The turnout rate of the first phase's first round was 26.56 percent , according to SEC.