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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Ayman Mohyeldin has more on today's voting in Egypt on an Islamist-backed constitution that was drafted by President Mohammed Morsi. Journalist Mona Eltahawy and Rula Jebreal then join MSNBC to weigh in on the situation.
Updated 10:30 p.m. ET: CAIRO - As Egypt on Saturday held a final voting round on a new constitution drafted by an assembly dominated by Islamists, the country's vice president resigned, according to government-run television.
Mahmoud Mekki, a judge, had said he intended to quit if the new constitution, which eliminates the post of vice president, was adopted.
But a statement attributed to Mekki hinted that his hurried departure might be linked to the policies of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
He said he first submitted his resignation last month but events forced him to stay on.
Preliminary results released Sunday by Morsi's party, the Muslim Brotherhood, showed that the disputed constitution had received a "yes" majority of more than 70 percent in the second and final round of voting.
An official from Egypt's main opposition group, which campaigned against the constitution, also said that its unofficial count indicated the document was approved.
"I have realized a while ago that the nature of politics don't suit my professional genesis as a judge," he wrote.
Saturday's vote followed a first-round vote last Saturday that unofficial results showed as giving 57 percent approval for the constitution.
The preliminary results, posted on the Brotherhood's website early Sunday and reported by The Associated Press, show that eight of the 25 million Egyptians eligible to vote -- a turnout of about 30 percent -- cast their ballots Saturday. Official results won't be known for several weeks.
The vote has been staggered, with about half the 51 million eligible voters covered in each round, because many judges needed to supervise the vote have boycotted the polls to protest the referendum in sympathy with the opposition.
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The opposition said voting in the first round was littered with abuses. Officials overseeing the poll said there were no major irregularities.
"I'm voting 'no' because Egypt can't be ruled by one faction," said Karim Nahas, 35, a stock market broker, heading to a polling station in Giza, a province included in this round of voting which covers parts of greater Cairo.
"Had the constituent assembly been representative of all Egyptians in the first place, we wouldn't have been in this situation," he said, after deadly violence marred the build-up to the referendum.
Liberals, Christians and others quit the drafting assembly, which was dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist allies of Morsi, saying their voices were not being heard.
Television footage showed some early queues at polling stations in areas of the country covered by this stage of the poll.
If the constitution is approved, a parliamentary election will follow in about two months.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Obama is a foreign policy GOD.
Exactly what I would had said, USA should let all those muslins Countries kill each other. However, let’s not forget that the world will need to deal with the other religions in the world who are manipulating people’s minds, just like the muslin religion manipulates their followers minds. I call it (upside down-sideways-crooked). Again the world is manipulated by religion and money power. "THAT IS ALL"
No, That is not all.
Which other religions need to be dealt with?
Islam does not manipulate. It enslaves.
Resistance is punishable by death.
Which other religion has a death sentence for people who wish not to believe?
Your non response speaks volumes.
MC Gusto
Talk to yourself much, or are you just answering the voices in your head
All these "revolutions" for "democracy" occur on liberal presidents watch. Iran, under Carter, and now Egypt and Syria under Obama. Only this time the radical islam is moving very fast (as they are now better organized) in taking over other countries. See sharia in Africa, SE Asia and Europe, and watch for the USA under construction.
This man is too close to Chavez of Venezuela to believe he has no ambitions to become Dictator of Egypt. Only the people of Egypt can forbid this outcome. They are the ONLY ones who may determine their form of government...and they must act decisively SOON to prevent the overthrow of democratic institutions. ONLY the populace of Egypt can determine what is legal or not. Personally, I was mystified about how Egypt could tolerate a major DUMP so close to the entrance of the capital city of their nation. It says something important about what they find tolerable. Will this easy tolerance (indifference?) translate to the political sphere? We will see...and very soon, too.
Egypt is now FREE to be ENSLAVED.
Just when we the people of the U.S. will need our guns against the islamist take over of the U.S. odumbo is working hard at taking them away from the legal law abiding citizens, one has to ask themselves "WHY".
the disgusting anti-muslim comments as always its not the religon that is the problem its a majority un-educated population and the Muslim brotherhood that is the problem, the problems are intertwined, educate the common man/woman and problem solved.
Pro-awesome, I guess you mean the company line...The problem is Israel...
There are hundreds muslim families that I know well, and they are honorable, hospitable, educated and peaceful, but they are subjected to intimidation and threats (families disappeared) by the extremists among them. I have been witnessing this most of my life. But they need to overcome the fear and clean up their communities. How? I have no idea. Their government does not want the majority population to be educated because that will mean the end of their tyranny. The radical islam and terrorists thrive on brainwashed people as they are the primary source of their recruitment.
I like how they INSTANTLY went back to the exact same government they just overthrew. Yes, truly a progressive people. Now can we turn it into a glass parking lot?
And we keep giving these guys modern weaponry including fighter jets and billions upon billions of dollars.
Mind boggling, Huh?
Wherever Islam goes, bloodshed follows. This is not a religion, it is a cult.
Muslims are Satan's Slaves, and have always been throught history.
There is not one nation which represents Islam, that is not filled with murder, sexual perversity
(what other religion allows sex with goats ?!!!!), rapes, lack of freedoms, etc., are their way,
and this should not be allowed to spread. Let them go back to the desert where they sprang from,
and Satan rules in their shadows.
Why are you all so upset. The Egyptians voted this group in and they are changing the Constitution.Sowhat! We voted the current administration and they are changing the US Constitution and none of you seem to care. Quit worrying about other Countries and lets try to fix this stuff here.
The Constitution is outdated and is being replaced.
Obama is smarter than all of the founding fathers.
The Muslim Brotherhood is the SAME group that Obama PRAISED and said would be GOOD for Egypt!!!! Obama you Muslim POS you are the most worthless piece of crap I have ever seen. YOU ARE the Liar in Chief and and a Muslim Thug no better than the rest of your Muslim kind. NONE are worth the time of day and YOU continue to support these Baby Killers... WHY?????
A Saudi Oil Minister paid Obama's way into Harvard.
Oh well.
Shia Vs Sunni,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Barack goes Sunni every time.
That's what I'm afraid of.
The Muslim Brotherhood sincerely hopes that everybody in the whole government except Morsi walks out. That way he can indeed become the next Hosni Mubarack, and rather than side with the civilized part of the world, they can start training and arming terrorists just like Iran and Pakistan.
Next election Morsi will get 100% of the vote....................... Like Saddam.
You are now free to be slaves to Islam.
I'm beginning to believe Muslim dominated countries require another couple hundred years of civilization before democracy sticks...
It's puzzling that, despite the fact that this referendum seems to have passed with a sizable majority, NBCNews saw fit to only include dissenting opinions in this story.