Turnout in the run-off of the first stage of Egypt's Shura Council (upper house of the parliament) elections was about 6.5 percent, chairman of the High Judicial Elections Commission announced Thursday evening.

Almost 1.66 million people went to the polling centers and cast ballots in the run-off of the first stage elections, said Abdel- Moez Ibrahim.

The total number of eligible voters in the country is 25.38 million, according to the official.

The first stage of the upper house elections were held in 13 of Egypt's 27 governorates, including Cairo, Alexandria, Minufiya, Gharbiya, Daqahliya, Damietta, Fayoum, Assuit, Qena, al Wadi al- Jadid, North Sinai, South Sinai and Red Sea.

The second phase of the elections will be held in the other 14 governorates on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15, with its run-off on Feb. 22.