ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

CEC Promises to Set Date for Parliamentary Elections in June, telegraf (2012)

Belarus parliamentary elections are scheduled for September 2012. The Central Election Commission of Belarus plans to announce the exact date of the parliamentary elections to be held this fall. President of Belarus jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will decide to invite or not the observers from the OSCE ODIHR.

Philippines: Comelec mails ballots for overseas absentee voters, Business World (2010).

This article notes the ballots for overseas absentee voters (OAV) for the 2010 Philippines’ National election has been sent in the Asia Pacific, US, Europe and the Middle East.

Philippines: Comelec extends local absentee voting listing, Manila Bulletin (2010).

This article discussses Philippines’ Commission on Elections (Comelec) who extend the deadline for local absentee voting (LAV) registration for the 2010 National elections.

Phlippines: Singapore included in automated polls for overseas absentee voting, The Philippine Star (2010).

This article notes the conduct of automated elections for overseas absentee voting (OAV) in Singapore and Hong Kong for the 2010 Philippines National elections.

Malaysia: Local Government Elections Need More Studies, Bernama (2010).

This article notes the proposal for implementing local government elections in Malaysia.

Burma military passes key election laws, BBC (2010).

This article notes Burma's election laws for the 2010 elections.

Togo moves to block poll protest, Aljazeera (2010)

Togo's government has now made a decision to block the planned March 9, 2010 opposition rally held to protest against the results of the presidential election. Roads to the opposition party's office were blocked to prevent opposition marches. The EU observation mission said there was evidence of ruling party trying to buy off votes by handing out rice to the poor, but overall vote rigging wasn't mentioned.

China legislature weighs election reform proposal, Jurist (2010)

The Chinese National People's Congress opened considerations about election reforms, which should aim at equal representation to residents of rural and administrative areas. The current law provides more congressional representatives to residents of urban districts than those of the rural district areas. Discussions of the proposed measure will continue during the 3rd session of the 11th National People's Congress from March 5-14, 2010.

Clinton Says U.S. Will Help Haiti to Hold Elections, Bloomberg (2010)

The U.S. will heed Haitian President Rene Preval’s call for help in holding elections to “ensure the stability and legitimacy” of the earthquake-devastated government, Secretary of of State Hillary Clinton said.

Kyrgyzstan: Do Central Asia's Gender Quotas Help Or Hurt Women?, RFE/RL (2010)

The article presents situation in Kyrgyzstan and in Central Asia in general, connected with gender equality in politics and women's representation in parliament and the executive.

Public opinion in Tajikistan 2010; findings from an IFES survey

The survey covers: Socio-Political and Economic situation; Democracy and Institutions; Elections and Voting; Opinions and Attitudes on political parties; Opinions of Identity and Citizenship, Opinions on Religion; and Media Usage and Opinions.

Nigeria: Jonathan Should Prioritise Electoral Reform - Buhari, Daily Trust (2010)

Retired General Buhari spoke in Kaduna when members of the Unity Forum paid him a courtesy visit. He said that the priority of the current acting President of Nigeria should be electoral reform because he feels that Nigerians would not accept flawed elections in 2011.

Italy: Berlusconi blames election chaos on opposition, Reuters (2010)

Italy's Prime Minister has accused the opposition of using dirty tricks to exclude his party's candidates from a regional election and announcing a national protest rally.

Pakistan: PPP grabs Balochistan Assembly seat in by-election, The Dawn Media Group (2010)

Pakistan People’s Party gained a seat in the Balochistan Assembly, as its candidate Sardarzada Nasir Khan Jamali won the by-election for PB-25, Jaffarabad-2, with a large majority.

Sri Lanka commission bans election posters and cut-outs, BBC (2010)

All posters and cardboard cut-outs of candidates will be removed in keeping with electoral regulations according to orders from the Sri Lankan election commission.

Austria: OSCE to monitor presidential election, Austrian Independent (2010)

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will send election observers to Austria for the first time since World War II to monitor next month’s presidential elections. The team would stay in Austria until around one week after the election set to be held on 25 April.

Solomon Islands: EU to send election expert team here, Solomon Star (2010)

European Union has agreed to send expert mission for the national general election around June.

To stand down or not to stand down? (The Budapest Times, 2010)

The first round of Hungary’s elections on April 11 will fundamentally change the country’s political landscape. The political dividing line may shift radically: Instead of a left-right split, politicians of all ideological stripes may find themselves making a common stand against right-wing radicals. Hitherto unthinkable cooperation between the governing Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) and the right-wing opposition Fidesz party may start taking shape as soon as the first round is over.

Fidesz Triples Support of Socialists in Hungary (Angus Reid Global Monitor, 2010)

Hungary’s main opposition party remains well positioned to win an upcoming legislative election, according to a poll by Tarki. 61 per cent of respondents, all of whom are decided voters, would support the Hungarian Citizens Party (Fidesz) in the April ballot, down one point since January.

Elections 2010 - Over 5,000 Hungarians register to vote abroad in both rounds (MTI, 2010)

So far more than 5,000 Hungarian citizens have registered to vote abroad in both rounds of the upcoming parliamentary elections, with the March 19 registration deadline approaching, the National Election Office said.