Voters in a referendum in Tunisia overwhelmingly backed a new constitution giving President Kais Saied nearly total powers, an exit poll said.

The poll by Sigma Conseil said 92.3 percent of voters in the referendum supported the new constitution, which, with no minimum participation rate requirement, is now set to become law.

Exit poll shows turnout was 25 percent as voting comes to an end

Turnout in Tunisia’s referendum on a new constitution proposed by President Saied was 25 percent, an exit poll by market researcher Sigma Conseil has shown.

The figure came as polling stations closed at 10pm local time (21:00 GMT) across the country.

Vote counting will run through the night, and results are expected to be announced early morning on Tuesday.

The referendum was faced with a national boycott campaign, with many voters and opposition parties snubbing the vote in order not to legitimise a process they perceive as enabling a return to dictatorial rule.

Turnout for referendum reaches 21.85 percent, election authority says

According to Tunisia’s ISIE election authority, turnout is now up to 21.85 percent, and more than 1.9 million voters have voted in the referendum.

The update comes with less than an hour to go before polls are due to close.

Tunisian press syndicate says some journalists prevented from covering the vote

The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists said some reporters were prevented from covering the vote inside certain polling stations, while data regarding the progress of the ballot was withheld from others.

It also reported security obstacles and the harassment of Tunisian and foreign journalists who were attempting to cover the referendum.

Observers blocked from performing duties in several polling stations: Tunisian NGO

The Tunisian Association for Integrity and Democracy of Elections, a non-governmental organisation also known as ATIDE, said a number of observers were prevented from carrying out their mission of observing and reporting on the referendum in various voting centres.

In recommendations published on its official Facebook page, ATIDE urged the election commission to quickly intervene and validate these observers’ accreditation certificates, and allow them to perform their supervisory role.

Opposition parties accuse Saied of breaching electoral silence

Five opposition parties have accused President Saied of breaching the rule of electoral silence by attacking his opponents while voting was still taking place.

In a joint statement, the five parties affiliated with a national campaign to boycott the referendum criticised the president’s speech, which he delivered earlier on Monday, describing it as propaganda.

The parties also criticised the electoral commission – accusing it of remaining silent on reports of violations – which they say is proof that the body lacks real independence.

Voter turnout up to 13.6 percent: Election authority

According to Tunisia’s ISIE election authority, turnout for the referendum is now up to 13.6 percent.

In the first round of Tunisia’s 2019 parliamentary elections, a voter turnout of 45.02 percent was reported.

Interest in voting has fallen in Tunisia, which recorded 62.9 percent voter turnout in 2014 during the country’s first legislative elections following the Arab Spring protests.

Empty polling stations, packed beaches in Tunis

The beaches are packed in Tunis; some say they will vote later, and others say they will not vote at all.

Mohamed Amine Mehjri, 23, and his friend and co-worker Malek Balloumi, are adamant they will not vote. They work in a newly revamped beach café in the chic beach suburb of La Marsa. Balloumi is more interested in showing off his barista skills than discussing politics.

Mehjri told Al Jazeera that he does not believe voting in Tunisia changes anything.

“It is not like Europe here, there is no real democracy in Tunisia. I want a real democracy but I don’t see it here. Everything is bad here, [main opposition] Ennadha is bad and so is [President] Kais Saied is too.”

Heavy security presence, police and army deployed

There is a heavy security presence across the country – police, the army, and a counterterrorism unit have been deployed.

There are more than 5,000 local observers and more than 120 international observers involved in the referendum. Many international observers say they have been prevented from getting into the polling stations, which raises questions about security and also the transparency of the voting system.

Experts say the turnout, which currently stands at 12 percent, is going to be a key issue for both President Saied and the opposition in this referendum as it’s being seen as a vote of confidence in the president.

Polls opened at 6am (05:00 GMT) and are expected to close by 10pm local time in Tunis.

Tunisians worry new constitution will consolidate power in one person’s hands

Many Tunisians are concerned that the new constitution will consolidate executive, legislative and judicial powers in the hands of just one person, the president.

The opposition says this constitution will take Tunisia back to a “dictatorship”.

Kais Saied’s supporters are keen for this constitution to be implemented and are expecting him to make radical changes to improve the country, which is still embroiled in a terrible economic crisis. (Al Jazeera)

*Reporting by Elizia Volkmann in Tunis.

PHOTO CAPTION: • A woman holding a flag celebrates after exit poll indicates voters backed new constitution in Tunis, Tunisia, July 25, 2022.

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