Voter turnout has declined in the run-off elections of the third round of voting to elect representatives to Egypt’s People’s Assembly.

According to counsellor Abdel-Moez Ibrahim, head of the Higher Elections Commission (HEC), turnout was 37.1 per cent in the final stage of the last phase of voting for Egypt’s lower house. For the third round, turnout was 62 per cent.

The turnout for the first round was 52 per cent, for the second round it was 65 per cent, and for the run-off for the second round, it was 43 per cent.

The polls were held in nine governorates: Qalyoubia, Daqahliya, Gharbiya, Menya, Qena, Matrouh, North Sinai, South Sinai and the New Valley.

Around 10.7 million people were eligible to vote in the run-off of the third phase. Of this figure, 3.9 million ballots were cast with 3.8 million valid.

The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and Salafists are expected to consolidate their lead. As parliamentary elections draw to a close, attention has shifted to the upcoming presidential elections.

One of the most renowned figures in the reform movement, Mohamed ElBaradei, has said that he will not stand in the elections for president. “I cannot run for office unless there is a real democratic framework,” said ElBaradei.

Protesters clashed with the military in December highlighting the continuing tension between the people and transitional government. ElBaradei blames the actions of the military council for failing to implement any changes following the revolution last year.

“I said from the start that my conscience will not allow me to run for any official position unless there is a real democratic framework that upholds the essence of democracy and not only its form,” said ElBaradei.