CCTV9英语新闻：埃及侨民开始对新宪法草案公投

Overseas voting has started on a draft of a new Egyptian Constitution. Voters lined up on Wednesday at Egyptian embassies and consulates around the world to cast ballots they hope will shape the future of Egypt.

At the embassy in Washington, people braved frigid temperatures to cast their votes. The referendum is part of the army-backed government’s plan for political transition, after its overthrow of elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi July last year. It could pave the way for new parliamentary and presidential elections as soon as April. general Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who led the overthrow, is now widely seen as the top contender to be elected president.

A 50-member assembly finished the new draft earlier this month. They removed Islamist-inspired provisions from the constitution, which was approved in a referendum last year while Morsi was still in office.