The ethics of observing Egypt's presidential election

Some critics say it's unethical to send international observers to monitor the Egyptian presidential vote because it could lend legitimacy to a fraudulent election.

Last July, General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was the man who informed Egyptians their elected president was going to be locked up. General Sisi is now the perceived presidential frontrunner in the country's elections. Results should be known by tonight.

Since seizing power, the Egyptian security forces have arrested political opponents and journalists. Some critics wonder if international observers should even dignify this election by helping to monitor it. Democracy International has sent a team to Egypt.

This is hardly the first time international election monitors have had to balance legitimacy with an impartial need to observe. But we're asking...should we be there at all?

• Eric Bjornlund is the President of Democracy International. He joined us from Cairo.
• Susan Hyde is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Yale University. She is also the author of The Pseudo-Democrat's Dilemma: Why Election Observation Became an International Norm. She joined us from New York City

Do you have concerns about international observers monitoring Egypt's election?

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This segment was produced by The Current's Catherine Kalbfleisch and Howard Goldenthal.