Baghdad: Egyptians queued outside polling stations in high numbers Thursday, on the second consecutive day of voting in the country’s landmark presidential election since Arab Spring revolution.The polling stations opened amid tight security and people cast their ballots across Egypt with a mix of joy and anxiety for one of 13 candidates. The government declared Thursday a holiday to give people more time to cast ballots.
The first day of voting on Wednesday was hailed as mainly free of fraud and violence.
The poll comes nearly a year and a half after dictator Hosni Mubarak resigned and many political leaders promising stability against ascending Islamists seeking to gather power.
An Islamist victory will probably mean a greater emphasis on religion in the government.
No flat out winner is expected from these elections, so a runoff between the two top finishers will occur between June 16 and 17.
The election pits Islamists against secularists, and revolutionaries against Mubarak-era ministers.
The elections are being conducted under full judicial supervision and international monitors have arrived to observe the transparency of the process.
The final presidential winner will be announced on June 21.