Egyptians vote on draft constitution

The Brotherhood, now branded a terrorist group, has called for a boycott of the vote. Morsi himself is facing three separate trials on charges that carry the death penalty.

The referendum is a precursor to the country's presidential elections, in which it is largely expected that Defense Minister Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will run.

Women and the elderly were heavily represented on Tuesday. The mood was generally upbeat, hostile toward the Brotherhood and hopeful that the charter would bring better days.

In one women-only line in Cairo, voters sang the national anthem together as well as patriotic songs dating back to the 1960s. “El-Sissi is my president,” they chanted as some jubilantly ululated.