CAIRO: Egypt has announced that parliamentary elections will take place in two stages in October and November.

Ayman Abbas, head of the Supreme Election Committee, said Sunday that half the governorates will vote on Oct. 18-19. The second stage will take place for the remaining governorates on Nov. 22-23.

Voters outside Egypt will cast ballots in a first stage on Oct. 17-18, and a second stage Nov. 21-22.

Egypt has been without a legislature for three years. In its absence, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi holds legislative authority. In just over a year of his tenure, he has passed dozens of laws by decree.

As army chief, el-Sissi led the 2013 ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. El-Sissi was elected president last year.