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Polling in Egypt’s presidential election has been extended for a third day due to low turnout.
The polls had been expected to close at 10pm last night (Tuesday), but were extended into Wednesday by the Egyptian election commission, according to BBC News.
Former military chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is standing against only one other candidate, left-winger Hamdeen Sabahi.
Voting had been extended for an extra hour on Tuesday which had already been declared as a public holiday in the hope it would boost turnout at the election.
Enhanced security is already in place in the Egyptian Red Sea resort area of Hurghada due to the possibility of terrorist attacks on tourists.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a warning on Friday and said: “We believe that terrorists continue to plan attacks. Attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur without prior warning.”
It added: “Enhanced security measures are in place to protect the resort areas in Hurghada. Egyptian military are situated in and around Hurghada International Airport. There are checkpoints around Hurghada and throughout the Red Sea governorate.”
TIME magazine said a mixture of “political fatigue, perceptions that the outcome was pre-determined, widespread boycotts and scorching hot weather” all drove down the turnout in the election.
Sisi is the frontrunner according to multiple news scources.