Egyptians Vote In A Presidential Race With A Foregone Conclusion

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi is up for re-election this week. But he's probably not worried about his job security; Sissi is almost guaranteed to win.

Sissi has tightened his grip on the country since he first won power after a military coup. Several potential rival candidates were sidelined leading up to the election; Sissi's only actual challenger in the polls is a supporter of his.

One-sided elections are a favorite tool of autocrats like Sissi. But even with a foregone conclusion, Egypt's elections can still show how much support Sissi has.

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Sissi won his first election in 2014 with a 47 percent voter turnout. A similar or lower turnout could suggest Egyptian voters aren't enthusiastic about the direction of Sissi's rule.

Supporters credit Sissi with stabilizing a country rocked by waves of protests and unrest. But stiff austerity measures, along with persistent terrorism in the country, could dampen enthusiasm for Sissi at the polls.

Egypt's elections last three days, so we won't know the final results until polls close on Wednesday.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.