ARAB SPRING

Egypt Votes for Second Day

Protesters threw shoes on Wednesday at candidate.

Egyptians returned to the polls on Thursday for the second day of voting in the country’s first free election since ousting former President Hosni Mubarak last year. Lines at the polls were not as long as Wednesday, although Egyptian authorities proclaimed Thursday a holiday to allow public-sector employees access to vote. Most of the voting went peacefully on Wednesday, although some scuffles were reported and including the throwing of stones and shoes at Ahmed Shafiq, the former commander of the Army who is one of the frontrunners. Fifty million people are registered to vote, and preliminary results are expected over the weekend. There are 13 people running for president, although it is unclear what the president’s powers will be until the new constitution is approved.