Egypt gives workers half day-off in second day of "election without voters"

International observers watch a woman cast her vote at a school used as a voting centre in Alexandria, Egypt, October 18, 2015. REUTERS

CAIRO: Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said on Monday that turnout during the previous day's parliamentary election was just 15-16 percent but should rise now after public sector workers were given a half-day off to vote.

Voters, however, appeared to be shunning the ballot box for a second day on Monday in what one newspaper called "an election without voters", highlighting growing disillusionment since the army seized power in 2013 and promised to restore democracy.