Egyptians will be voting on Saturday in a referendum to decide on constitutional changes aimed at enabling fair and open elections. The proposed amendments have caused a split within the reform movement that led to the ousting of Hosni Mubarak. Some believe that more extensive changes are necessary, while others argue that the amendments are sufficient for now. A large voter turnout is anticipated. The Muslim Brotherhood, a well-organised Islamist group, supports the amendments, putting them at odds with secular groups and prominent reform proponents such as Mohamed ElBaradei and Amr Moussa, who are both running for president. The military council, which took power from Mubarak on Feb. 11, is hoping for the amendments to pass so they can continue with their plan for parliamentary and presidential elections, ultimately leading to a transfer of power to an elected government. Ahmed Saleh, who is currently overseeing ElBaradei's presidential campaign, described the upcoming vote as a significant moment. He mentioned that there is a high level of interest in voting among the people and a sense of change in the air. The military council, which took over power from Mubarak on February 11, is urging for a strong voter turnout. The council's main objective for the referendum is to set the stage for upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. They emphasized the importance of Egyptian participation and input, more so than the actual outcome of the vote. The council has tasked a judicial committee with drafting amendments, including a two-term limit for the presidency to restrict leaders to serving a maximum of eight years, in contrast to Mubarak's three-decade rule. Rejecting the amendments will require the council to reconsider its strategy and extend a transitional period that it aims to keep as brief as possible. However, the reforms do not meet the expectations of reformists who seek a complete overhaul of the constitution. Youth groups leading protests against Mubarak view the amendments as an effort to stifle the revolution. Additionally, there are concerns that the military's tight election schedule will not allow enough time for political parties to recover from years of suppression, potentially benefiting the Muslim Brotherhood and remnants of Mubarak's regime. General Ismail Etman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has stated that amending the constitution is the best, albeit not ideal, solution. In an interview with Al Gomhuria newspaper that was published on Thursday, he mentioned that the approval of the amendments would result in the creation of new laws that would allow for more political freedom, including the removal of restrictions on forming political parties. The debate on how to vote has been prominent in newspapers, television stations, and social media platforms. The "No" camp continued their campaign on Friday with a full-page advertisement in Al Masry Al Youm, a popular Egyptian newspaper. One of the objections listed was, "How can I support a decision of such historical significance without sufficient time or information?" This was accompanied by images of actors, politicians, religious leaders, and businessmen who are encouraging voters to reject the amendments. On the following page, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood expressed a different perspective: "Backing the changes to the constitution is a move towards fulfilling the goals of the revolution ... those who oppose them have not presented a viable alternative." Approximately 45 million out of Egypt's 80 million population are eligible to participate in the voting process, and a significant turnout is anticipated from citizens who are accustomed to experiencing violent and rigged elections during Mubarak's rule. "I will definitely cast my vote. I have never believed that my vote would have as much impact as it will on Saturday," stated Ahmed Adel, 35, who mentioned that he plans to support the amendments in order to help steer his country in the right direction. "We urgently need a functioning parliament and president." Activist Ziad el-Elemi expressed a differing opinion, stating that workshops are being conducted nationwide to educate citizens on the fact that constitutional amendments alone are not sufficient.