Thousands of Egyptians gather in Tahrir Square after Mohamed Morsi is declared the nation's first democratically elected president on Sunday, June 24. In a nationally televised speech, the longtime member of the Muslim Brotherhood promised to represent all Egyptians.
Cairo (CNN) -- The presidential runoff election in Egypt this weekend pits an Islamist against a symbol of Egypt's former dictatorial regime: the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik.
And there was a third option as polling began Saturday: boycott.
The stakes are high -- the future of Egypt's hard-won revolution rests in ballots cast this weekend amid political chaos. Egypt has no constitution and now, after a shocking court ruling, no parliament. It was declared invalid Thursday and dissolved Friday.
The Muslim Brotherhood rejected Saturday the dissolution of parliament as a dangerous step taken by the military and called for another referendum on the matter.
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"We are calling for a referendum again on the dissolving of parliament and see it as the logical thing to do especially after 30 million people went to the polls the first time and the country spent over 3 billion Egyptian pounds in a transparent electoral process," said Mahmoud Ghozlan, spokesman for the Brotherhood.
Many Egyptians have expressed fears that their revolution is unraveling; that the military, long the central nerve system of Egypt, will never relinquish power.
"I was planning to boycott the elections because I feel neither candidate represents the Egypt we wanted, but my family convinced me," said Yousef Hamad, a retired English professor in central Cairo, who would not reveal how he voted.
"These next two days will shape Egypt's history," he said. "I am standing in the long line to vote for the more experienced candidate who will hopefully save Egypt's economy before it completely collapses."
The polls opened at 8 a.m. Saturday. Farouk Sultan, head of Egypt's Presidential Election Committee, announced that polling hours were extended by an hour to 9 p.m. The polls open again Sunday morning and remain open until 8 p.m. Votes must be counted by Monday, with final results expected Thursday.
The heat kept turnout relatively low much of Saturday, but voting picked up later.
Officials reported few voting irregularities, Sultan said.
The April 6 youth movement, behind many of the protests in Tahrir Square last year, said three dozen members were arrested, most later being released.
"The new martial law seems to be in full effect," said spokesman Hisham Mohamed. "They are obviously targeting us and we think it will get worse if Shafik is president."
Although the political situation has been difficult, U.S. Rep. David Dreier, R-California, an observer, said the election is significant.
"For the first time in 7,000 years the people of Egypt this weekend are going to elect a president and no one knows for sure who the winner is going to be," Dreier told CNN. "I think that is an accomplishment."
The excitement of being able to choose a candidate could not be underestimated. But that choice, for some, came down to the lesser of two evils.
Farouq Magdy supported Hamdeen Sabahy, a candidate who didn't make the runoff. Now, after the constitutional court's ruling and the recent release of six former Interior Ministry officials, he felt the military council was asserting its authority.
That's why Morsi, he said, was "the better of two choices."
But hotel manager Mohammed Ali said a majority of his staff was voting for Shafik.
"We need security and we want to recover economically," Ali said. "Not because Shafik is a great option, but let's say he is the best of the worst."
Or consider these two differing opinions:
"I do not trust anyone with a beard. So I am voting for Shafik," said fast-food shopkeeper Kamaal. That's a reference to Morsi, a conservative Muslim with a beard.
But jeweler Mohammed Ahmed recalled Shafik say on television last year that he would personally guarantee the safety of protesters at Tahrir Square. When it didn't happen, the least he should have done was resign, Ahmed said.
"I am voting for Morsi because I feel Shafik has betrayed Egyptians last year when he was Mubarak's prime minister," he said.
The runoff follows a May election that failed to produce a winner with a clear majority.
No one knows how much power Egypt's new president will wield. A constitution that will define his role has yet to be drafted and a new round of parliamentary elections has not yet been scheduled.
But one thing is clear. Morsi or Shafik will report directly to Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the powerful military leaders who have been ruling Egypt de facto since Mubarak's departure.
Some disgruntled voters launched a campaign to invalidate ballots, said Mohamed Ghoneim, the founder of a group that marked X on the names of both Morsi and Shafiq, thereby nullifying their vote.
Political scientist Amr Hamzawy wrote a newspaper article on the boycott.
"There are different kinds of political and psychological blackmail taking place these days against citizens who have already made up their mind and decided to boycott the presidential runoff elections," he wrote.
"I register my intention to revoke my vote by refraining from voting for any of the rival candidates, and also place on record my respect for the rules of electoral competition and I will respect the result as long as the electoral process was characterized by integrity, and absence of fraud."
Among the boycotters was Mohamed Khamees, who handed out leaflets.
Khamees said he lost sight in his left eye from a police beating in Tahrir Square during the early 2011 protests.
"If I give this country for the Brotherhood hands, there is not going to be any more Egypt, it will be destroyed," he told CNN. "And if I give it to someone from the old system, it looks like we did nothing."
Prominent journalist Bilal Fadl attacked Muslim Brotherhood members for months for an alleged lack of performance in the parliament they dominated. But now, he has changed his mind.
"Do you still think it is better to give your voice to Ahmed Shafik so he can become the first Egyptian president since the revolution?" Fadl wrote.
"That's the revolution for which hundreds sacrificed their lives ... under the political responsibility of Shafik. Would you give your voice to someone who got his legitimacy from his being anti-revolution or give it to someone who is pro-revolution but only differs with you (in approach)?"
These are questions pondered by 50 million eligible voters this weekend.
Businessman Hussain Mahmoud voted for Morsi. Hussein doesn't want soldiers, serving or retired, to lead Egypt.
"They consider themselves superior to other human beings," he told CNN. "They're used to giving orders and those below carrying them without discussion."
Mahmoud was interrupted by Mabrouk Mikhail, a Coptic Christian, former army officer and supporter of Shafik. He insisted religion must stay out of politics.
"Frankly, the Brotherhood failed in parliament. They were a farce and nothing good came of them," Mikhail said.
Analysts: 'Soft coup' court ruling could reignite Egyptian revolution
Despite tensions, Saturday's polling was mostly calm, said Gen. Mohsen Mourad, head of security in Cairo.
The Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission has approved licenses for 53 organizations to observe the elections, including at least three international groups -- the U.S.-based Carter Center, the South Africa-based Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa and the Arab Network for Monitoring of Elections.
A wild election weekend for Egypt, France and Greece
CNN's Amir Ahmed, Saad Abedine, Moni Basu, Ivan Watson, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, Ben Wedeman and Faith Karimi contributed to this report.
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As fireworks burst overhead, Egyptians in Tahrir Square celebrate Mohamed Morsi's election on Sunday.
A supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood is carried away from the tightly packed arena of Tahrir Square in Cairo on Sunday as Mohamed Morsi supporters celebrate his victory in Egypt's presidential election.
Morsi suppporters celebrate in front of a picture of him at his campaign headquarters in Cairo on June 24.
Supporters of presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik react after hearing the results of the presidential elections in Cairo on June 24.
Farouq Sultan, center, head of the Higher Presidential Election Commission, reads the results of the presidential runoff election in Cairo on Sunday, declaring Morsi the winner.
Muslim Brotherhood supporters cheer in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Sunday after hearing of Morsi's victory in Egypt's presidential election.
Egyptians celebrate the election of Morsi after he won 51% of the vote to defeat Shafik.
Egyptians fill Tahrir Square on Sunday, June 24, as they wait for the elections commission to announce the winner of the country's presidential election.
Female supporters of Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate, protest against Egypt's military rulers in Tahrir Square in Cairo on Saturday, June 23. Egyptian election officials had postponed the announcement of a winner in last weekend's presidential runoff, stating they needed more time to evaluate charges of electoral abuse that could affect who becomes the country's next president.
A supporter of presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik, the last prime minister of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, holds up a wooden Christian cross and Muslim crescent as he and others demonstrate in Nasr city on the outskirts of Cairo, on Saturday, June 23.
The official election results are expected on June 24.
Protesters demonstrate against Egypt's military rulers.
Protesters take a break from shouting slogans to pray in Tahrir Square.
Protesters sleep as they camp overnight in Tahrir Square.
Protesters wave flags and shout slogans in Tahrir Square on Friday, June 22, in Cairo.
Crowds gather in Tahrir Square to protest against Egypt's military rulers.
Protesters shout slogans to denounce what they claim is a power grab by the ruling military, as the nation nervously awaits the results of the first post-Mubarak presidential election.
Protesters gather in front of wall art in Tahrir Square.
Protesters perform Friday noon prayer under tents erected in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square.
Egyptian activists rest at the foot of a banner of presidential candidate Mohamed Morsi in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Thursday, June 21.
Muslim clerics join demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Thursday to protest the delay of the presidential election results. The Presidential Election Commission postponed the release of the presidential election results, and both candidates have declared themselves winners.
A supporter of Egyptian presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik kisses a portrait of him during a Cairo rally Wednesday, June 20. Shafik was the last prime minister to serve under Hosni Mubarak
Morsi supporters rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Monday, June 18. Morsi declared victory as Egypt's first democratically elected president even as military rulers issued a decree that virtually stripped the position of power.
Morsi supporters wave flags Monday in Cairo's Tahrir Square after the Islamists claimed victory. The square was considered the heart of the February 2011 uprising that led to Hosni Mubarak's downfall.
The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi makes his way through supporters at electoral headquarters early Monday in Cairo. In a victory speech, Morsi did not address the military council's move but tried to allay fears he would impose an Islamist state.
Morsi supporters celebrate Monday in Cairo. Votes in the Egyptian capital, the largest population center, continued to be tallied, but unofficial results by a state-run news website showed Morsi leading elsewhere with 11.2 million votes, compared with 10.3 million for Ahmed Shafik, the last prime minister in the waning days of Mubarak's regime.
Egyptian election officials count ballots at a polling station in Cairo on Sunday, June 17. The official vote count was scheduled to be finished Monday.
The Muslim Brotherhood on Sunday claims its candidate, Mohamed Morsi, has defeated foe Ahmed Shafik to become Egypt's president.
An Egyptian woman shows her ink-stained finger, marking that she voted in Cairo on Sunday.
Women line up to vote at a polling station in Cairo, Egypt, on the second and final day of the run-off presidential election.
Women line-up to cast their vote at a polling station in Cairo on Sunday.
Egyptian Christian Coptic men help a woman reach a polling station in the Cairo Coptic Shubra neighborhood on Saturday, June 16. Voters returned to the polls after Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court ruled Thursday that the Islamist-led Parliament must be immediately dissolved.
A full-veiled Egyptian woman casts her vote at a polling station in Cairo on June 16.
Egyptians queue outside a polling station in Cairo.
An Egyptian Muslim Salafist shows his ink-stained finger after voting at a polling station.
An Egyptian woman dips her finger in indelible ink after casting her ballot.
Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi, center, waves to his supporters as he arrives at a polling station to vote in the city of Zagazig.
An Egyptian woman casts her ballot in Cairo.
Egyptians check to see their names are listed before casting their votes at a polling station.
Egyptian women dip their fingers in ink after voting at a polling station.
An elderly Egyptian man shows the indelible ink stain on his finger after voting on the first day of the second round of the historical presidential election at a polling station in the city of Zagazig.
Egyptians push a truck that was blocking the entrance of a polling station.
An Egyptian man smiles after casting his vote in Giza.
A veiled Egyptian woman looks for her name on the registered voters' list in the city of Zagazig.
An Egyptian Coptic Christian woman casts her vote in the Cairo Coptic neighborhood of Shubra.
Egyptian women cast their votes at a polling station.
An Egyptian woman holds her baby as she prepares to vote at a polling station in Cairo.
An Egyptian man shows off his little finger covered in indelible ink after casting his vote at a polling station in Cairo.
An Egyptian man on his donkey shows his ink-stained finger after casting his ballot.
Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi casts his ballot at a polling station in the city of Zagazig.
An Egyptian woman holds up an ink-stained finger after casting her vote at a polling station in Cairo.
An elderly Egyptian man registers Saturday before voting in the city of Zagazig in an election that pits Ahmed Shafik, the last premier of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, against Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi.
Election officials and an Egyptian soldier direct voters during the second stage of runoff presidential elections at a polling station in Giza.
Egyptian Christian Coptic men check the voters' list Saturday outside a polling station in the Cairo Coptic neighborhood of Shubra.
Egyptians burn the likeness of presidential candidate and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik in Cairo on Friday, the eve of the nation's presidential election.
A bus driver stops to wave in support of Egyptian protesters making their way to Tahrir Square on Thursday.
Egyptians pray in Tahrir Square on Thursday during a protest against presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik.
A protester stands on a barricade of barbed wire as Egyptian military police stand guard. Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that the Islamist-led parliament must be immediately dissolved.
An Egyptian boy waves his shoes as he joins supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in a protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square against Mubarak-era prime minister and presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik after Egypt's top court rejected on Thursday a law barring him from standing in a tense presidential poll runoff.
Protestors gesture towards military police through a barricade of barbed wire during a protest against presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik outside the Supreme Constitutional Court on Thursday.
People walk past graffiti showing faces of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, right; Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, second right; former Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Mussa, second left, and former prime minister and presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, left, at Tahrir square.
A boy peers through barbed wire at Egyptian military police standing guard outside the Constitutional Court in Cairo on Thursday, June 14.
Egyptian women line up to cast their vote Saturday.
Former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, center, is seated before addressing a business conference in Cairo on Wednesday.
Egyptians read the front page of newspapers for sale outside of Al-Fatah Mosque in Cairo on Friday, May 25.
Ballots are counted by election officials in Alexandria as the country eagerly awaits the outcome Friday.
A supporter of presidential candidate Abdelmonen Abol Fotoh voices her opinions at Tahrir Square on Friday.
Supporters of various candidates debate outside Al-Fatah Mosque in Cairo on Friday.
Electoral officials monitor voting in Namul, a village north of Cairo, on Thursday, May 24, the second and final day of voting in Egypt's historic presidential election. Egypt is holding its first presidential election since last year's toppling of Hosni Mubarak, part of the wave of Arab Spring uprisings.
Egyptian women wait in line Thursday to cast their vote outside a polling station in Cairo. If no candidate gets a majority of the vote in the first round of voting, a second round will be held June 16-17.
An election worker checks the identification of a voter at a polling place Thursday in Namul as Egyptian soldiers stand guard.
A soldier stands watch in the Egyptian capital on the second day of voting. A pervasive fear exists that the powerful military, which has run the country since Mubarak's fall 16 months ago, could try to hijack the election.
An Egyptian man waits to cast his ballot Thursday north of Cairo. The vote is considered Egypt's first free and fair presidential election in modern history.
An Egyptian man drops off his ballot at a polling station Thursday in Cairo. The voting marks the first time Egypt has held a presidential election in which the results aren't known beforehand.
An Egyptian woman holds up an ink-stained finger after casting her ballot in Cairo on Wednesday, May 23, the first day of voting in the historic election.
A voter studies her ballot Wednesday in Cairo. Thirteen candidates are competing in the wide-open race, but two withdrew after ballots were printed.
Egyptian men fill out their ballots Wednesday in Cairo. Results of the first round of voting are not expected before the weekend.
An Egyptian man casts his ballot at a Cairo polling station. Some Egyptians told CNN that they waited up to four hours Wednesday to vote.
Egyptian men shield themselves from the hot sun outside a Cairo polling station Wednesday.
Egyptian men line up to cast their vote Wednesday in Cairo. Some 30,000 volunteers fanned out to ensure voting is fair, said organizers with the April 6 youth movement, which has campaigned for greater democracy in Egypt.
Egyptian men fill out their ballots at a Cairo polling place.
Presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahy, a leftist dark-horse contender, flashes a sign of victory as he waits to vote at a Cairo school.
Presidential candidate Abdelmonen Abol Fotoh, a moderate Islamist, casts his ballot Wednesday in Cairo.
An Egyptian Coptic nun drops her ballot at a Cairo polling station Wednesday.
Egyptian women wait outside a polling station in Cairo. Many Egyptians seem uncertain of their loyalties to any particular candidate.
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