NATIONAL DIALOGUE-

How to encourage more people to vote? That was one of the main topics up for discussion at the National Dialogue yesterday during a session dedicated to updating a 1956 law that sets out political rights. A number of ideas to increase voter turnout were put forward by delegates:

#1- Make it digital: A number of participants called for the law to be amended to allow for electronic voting, which they argued will make voting easier and more accessible. The idea seems to have the backing of the dialogue’s chief coordinator, Diaa Rashwan, who said that it would increase the participation of expats, only 3.5% o f whom tend to vote in elections.

#2- The carrot: Giving people a day off could be the answer, according to Rashwan, who proposed making every election day a national holiday.

#3- The stick: Don’t want to vote? You could pay for it through your wallet under a proposal also backed by Rashwan which would see people who choose to abstain handed EGP 500 fines.

Cultural industries: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi told the dialogue’s board of trustees to speed up the discussion of the draft law establishing a new council for education and training, prompting Rashwan to cancel Thursday’s scheduled discussion on cultural industries in favor of the council.

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