Egyptian election: the symbols used on polling papers and posters – in pictures

Some seek to vacuum away the remnants of the old regime, others believe they can drill down to the roots of Egypt’s malaise. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

From bananas to tanks, traffic lights to toothbrushes, a dazzling array of weird and wonderful party symbols will be on offer to Egyptian voters. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

A few symbols have taken even seasoned election observers by surprise. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Some symbols have provoked more serious political debate, particularly those depicting military strength or weapons. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Initially, 30 emblems were enough to cover the number of prospective MPs in each district; now, an explosion in the number of political forces following the end of Mubarak’s one-party rule means that no less than 250 symbols are in operation. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

It’s harder than you might think to come up with scores of different but recognisable everyday objects, and unsurprisingly the choices made by the supreme elections commission – which are then randomly assigned to those running for office – have ruffled a lot of feathers Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

An oven and grapes are among the random symbols. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

The use of symbols to distinguish between rival parties and candidates dates back to the 1950s and the rule of Gamal Abdel Nasser, when an effort was made to help illiterate voters mark their ballot papers correctly. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

The election is being held amid ongoing violent unrest between anti-junta demonstrators and the military council’s security forces. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

A camera and umbrella are among the random symbols. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

There are some innocuous looking objects with Arabic names meaning something else in local slang. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Hind Akef, a former actress, is running for parliament using a symbol of a rocket – the word for which means ‘hottie’ in colloquial Egyptian. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images