In Pictures

Egypt: Egyptians cast ballot in presidential election

Voting in the presidential election will take place over a three-day period, from 26 to 28 March.

A woman poses for a photo after voting during the first day of the presidential election outside a polling site in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, March 26, 2018. Polls opened on Monday in Egypt''s presidential — A woman poses after voting during the first day of the presidential election outside a polling station in Cairo, Egypt. [Nariman El-Mofty/AP Photo]

Egyptians began voting Monday in an election that virtually guaranteed another term for President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who faced only one token opponent in balloting that resembled the referendums held by autocrats for decades before the Arab Spring briefly raised hopes of democratic change.

El-Sisi’s only challenger was Moussa Mustafa Moussa, a little-known politician who joined the race at the last minute to spare the government the embarrassment of a one-candidate election after several hopefuls were forced out or arrested.

Authorities hope enough of Egypt’s nearly 60 million eligible voters will participate in the three-day election to give it legitimacy. Local media, which are dominated by pro-government commentators, have portrayed voting as an obligation and the only way to prevent foreigner forces from sowing instability in the country.

Most polling places had only modest lines Monday, and some were empty for most of the day.

Tens of thousands of police and soldiers were deployed for the vote.

Egyptian presidential candidate Moussa Mustafa Moussa holds a ballot before casting his vote during the first day of the presidential election, at a polling station, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, March 26, — Egyptian presidential candidate Moussa Mustafa Moussa holds a ballot before casting his vote during the first day of the presidential election. [Nariman El-Mofty/AP Photo]

Women chant national songs after they cast their vote in front of a polling station during the first day of the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, March 26, 2018. Egyptians head to the pol — El-Sisi has been urging a high voter turnout among the nearly 60 million eligible voters to affirm his legitimacy after all credible opponents dropped out in January. [Amr Nabil/AP Photo]

A girl holds an Egyptian flag during the second day of the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt, March 27, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh — A girl holds an Egyptian flag during the second day of the presidential election in Cairo. [Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters]

Entissar Amer, the wife of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, casts her vote during the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt, March 26, 2018. The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTI — First Lady Entissar Amer casts her vote during the presidential election in Cairo. [Reuters]

A voter''s finger is marked with ink at a polling station during the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ammar Awad TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY — The vote comes seven years after the revolution that ended the three-decade-long presidency of Hosni Mubarak. [Ammar Awad/Reuters]

Egyptian children wearing shirts with Arabic inscription reading ''come down and participate'' hold flowers and national flags during the first day of Egyptian presidential election, in Cairo, Egypt, 26 — In 2014, when el-Sisi first ran for president, less than half of eligible voters cast their ballot. [Mohamed Hossam/EFE/EPA]

Egyptians cast their votes at a polling station during the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt, March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY — Egyptians cast their votes at a polling station in Cairo. [Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters]

A man reads voting instructions at a polling station during the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ammar Awad — Since the military coup in 2013 and the election of President el-Sisi in 2014, inflation has increased from about 12 percent to its peak at around 33 percent in mid-2017.[Ammar Awad/Reuters]

Police and army soldiers help an elderly voter as she enters a polling station during the first day of the presidential election in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, March 26, 2018. Polls opened on Monday in Egyp — In spite of the low turnout, el-Sisi is expected to win after eliminating any real political opposition. [Amr Nabil/AP Photo]