ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

China urges support for Burma's general election, BBC News (2010).

This article discusses China’s foreign ministry's statement regarding support for Myanmar’s November 7 general elections.

Myanmar general election enters into time of count-down, Xinhua News (2010).

This article discusses preparations from the government, political parties, and election commission for the November 7 Myanmar general elections.

Nigerian Group Commits to Voter Education Ahead of January Election VOAnews.com (2010)

The General Secretary of the Alliance for Credible Elections is going to monitor closely the January 2011 elections. He is also going to educate the general population on how to vote.

Niger’s Election to Return to Civilian Rule Delayed to 31st January VOAnews.com (2010)

Previously set for 3rd of January, Niger's election has been postponed to the 31st of January in order to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

Nigeria:Analyst Sees Nigerian Security Shake-up as Mostly Political voanews.com (2010)

Just after the dates for the upcoming elections has been set the President Goodluck Jonathan, decides to changes the security officers. Some political analyst says that these changes are purely political.

Somaliland parliament gets extension amid opposition and public objection, Somaliland Press (2010)

This article indicates that the legislative assembly in Somaliland, which is composed of two chambers – an appointed elder’s chamber, and a House of Representatives; has passed a legislation that will extend both chambers serving terms for than two years. In addition, the legislative assembly extended the terms of regional and municipal representatives in the country.

Ivorian Political Leaders Committed to Free, Fair October Election voanews.com (2010)

 

Polish ruling party widens lead over rivals-poll (Arab News, 2010)

Poland's ruling centrist Civic Platform (PO) may win enough seats to govern alone after next year's parliamentary election, according to an opinion poll published on Wednesday that confirmed the party's wide lead.

Slovakia: Mečiar of HZDS says his party is searching for new election leader for 2014 (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

The People's Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) is looking for a new election leader for the general election in 2014 and it wants to find one within two years, said HZDS chairman Vladimír Mečiar on Saturday, September 4, adding that the party is also preparing a shadow government, the TASR newswire reported.

Smer remains most popular party in Slovakia according to poll (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

A poll of 1,018 respondents released on Monday, September 6, reported that Smer remains Slovakia's most popular political party and that it would have garnered 40.7 percent voter support if a general election had been held in late July or early August – more than the 35 percent it received when it topped the polls in the June election, the TASR newswire wrote. Smer was unable to form a government in June, however, because it could not find a coalition partner or partners that would give it a majority in parliament.

Slovakia: Motion to remove Speaker of Parliament Sulík fails (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Richard Sulík, the Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, survived a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, September 8 with only 64 MPs voting in a secret ballot to remove Sulík, the TASR newswire reported.

Czech Republic: MfD: Klaus 'less naughty' in second term in office (Prague Daily Monitor, 2010)

Czech President Vaclav Klaus is provoking less annoyance during his second term in office and his relations with the government and the Chamber of Deputies have improved, the daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) writes yesterday.

Czech Republic: LN: Right-wing parties needlessly nervous before polls (Prague Daily Monitor, 2010)

The nervousness of the Czech right-wing parties ahead of the mid-October local and Senate elections is unnecessary because they are second-category polls that are not decisive for the real strength of particular parties, Stanislav Balik writes in Lidove noviny yesterday.

'Dragon' authour anti-immigrant prophecy may emerge in Swedish vote, Bloomberg (2010)

This article discusses whether the Swedish Democrats will reach the 4% threshold to enter the Parliament in the September 19 general elections. The far-right party campaign against immigration, and would like to cut it as much as 90%. Unlike its neighboring countries, Denmark and Norway, Sweden has not had an anti-immigration party since1994, when the New Democracy Party lost the elections.

Afghanistan: Taliban 'threatening election legitimacy', The Morning Star (2010)

This article discusses the report of US-based organization, Human Right Watch, on the elections in Afghanistan. Human Right s Watch reported that candidates running for the September parliamentary elections in Afghanistan have being constantly threatened and intimidated. Women candidate, the report said, are especially at risk. Election officials reported that in the eastern provinces, the Taliban are making house visits to threaten the people.

Taiwan's Kuomintang feeling the heat ahead of municipal elections, Channel News Asia (2010)

This article reports on the latest updates on the municipal elections in Taiwan. The elections are months away, but the political parties are already preparing their campaigns. Most of the polls show the people's disappointment with the ruling Kuomintang, while the opposition Democratic Progressive Party appear to be gaining popularity.

Understanding causes of electoral violence in Uganda, The Daily Monitor (2010)

This article discusses the causes of electoral violence in Uganda. In the primary elections of the National Resistance Movement, violence spread among NRM supporters and leaders. According to the author of this article, this could be just a taste of the things to come. In Uganda, the author continues, two of the causes of the election violence could be the "winner takes all" electoral system and the role of the controversial Electoral Commission.

Afghan less confident in elections this time, Gallup (2010)

This article presents the Gallup poll on the confidence level towards the elections in Afghanistan. According to the poll, the lack of confidence in the honesty of their elections is sharply increasing among Afghan voters. 67% of the Afghan adults interviewed do not trust their electoral process. This trend could translate into very low voter turnout in the September elections.

Koran-burning protests could delay Afghan poll: U.N., Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the warning of the UN mission in Afghanistan about a possible delay. According to Staffan de Mistura, the UN SG Special Representative, believes that these anti-Muslim protests could have a substantial effect on the electoral process in the country, as it would give the Taliban an excuse to use violence. These types of protest would only provoke angry reactions, and encourage more people to join the extremists. The Independent Election Commission is planning to postpone the poll in some provinces where there are security issues. 17.5 million voters are registered, but the turnout is expected to be around 5-7 million.

Vote rigging and violence in primary elections sets worrying trend in Uganda, The Guardian (2010)

This article reports on the political situation in Uganda. Alleged malpractice in last week's primary elections triggered a series of violent incidents in the north-western regions. The NRM primaries have been badly managed, with delays and wrong voters' registers, and this could be one of the causes. Furthermore, election malpractices across all political parties have been widely reported. These events could mean that the country will face widespread violence in the coming months and in the February 2011 general elections.