Calm vote: Police secure legislative elections in Algiers

Algerian authorities deployed an extensive security apparatus across the capital to ensure a serene voting process during the legislative elections held on July 2. The operation involved a coordinated effort between police, gendarmerie, and civil protection forces to safeguard the institutional event.

More than 24.7 million Algerian voters were called to elect 407 deputies for the tenth legislature of the National People's Assembly. These deputies represent 77 constituencies, with eight specifically allocated to the national community residing abroad. The scale of the election necessitated close coordination among various security and administrative institutions.

Visible police presence was noted from the opening of polling stations. Officers were stationed at the entrances and perimeters of voting centers, with teams of two to four agents assigned based on factors like electoral density, site size, and surrounding environment. Reporting from centers in the Karim-Belkacem, Mohamed-V, and Premier-Mai neighborhoods observed a calm and disciplined security presence.

At the Zineb-Oum-El-Mesakine high school, four officers, including a female officer, secured the entrance. They maintained a vigilant yet reassuring attitude towards voters approaching the center. Citizens interviewed near the polling stations praised the organization and the sense of security they felt. Additional police vehicles monitored the external perimeter, and traffic infractions, such as illegal parking near polling stations, were addressed.

The coordination extended to other locations like the Mohamed-El-Berkani middle school, where police officers maintained observation of passersby. This comprehensive security deployment aimed to provide a stable and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote.