ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Afghanistan postpones parliamentary election by 4 months, The New York Times (2010)

The Independent Election Commission announced postponement of the parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for May 2010, to September 18, 2010. The cited reasons for this decision are lack of money, logistical challenges and the continuing violence. The postponement was welcomed by international organizations and Western governments, who have been urging Afghanistan to delay the elections until electoral reforms are adopted.

Bickering halts Zim new constitution, IOL (2010)

Zimbabwe has suspended moves to draw up a new constitution due to political bickering over funding, dealing a blow to hopes for free and fair elections next year after the intended adoption of the charter.

AU to offer new Madagascar compromise, Mail and Guardian (2010)

The African Union's top diplomat will present Madagascar's bickering power-brokers with a fresh political compromise aimed at ending a year-long crisis.

Sólyom sets elections for April 11, 25 (Politics.hu, 2010)

The two rounds of the parliamentary elections will be held on April 11 and 25, President László Sólyom announced on Friday, thereby kicking off the election campaign.

MSZP names Budapest candidates (The Budapest Times, 2010)

The Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) last Thursday presented its candidates for the 32 electoral constituencies in the capital. Former Budapest deputy mayor Miklós Hagyó and Minister for Culture and Education István Hiller will face the electorate.

Philippines: Comelec: 43,000 registered twice for May polls, GMA News (2010).

This article notes Philippines’ Commission on Elections (Comelec)'s report regarding 43,000 voters which were found to be multiple registrants for the May 2010 National elections in Calabarzon and in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Philippines: Election results in 6 days, Manila Bulletin (2010).

This article deals with Philippines’ Commission on Elections (Comelec)’s statement on the use of 82,200 Precinct Count Optical Scan machines which will transmit and consolidate 2010 election result in six days time.

Indonesia: Financial problems put regional elections at risk, The Jakarta Post (2010).

This article discusses the budgets proposed by local polling commissions in the administrative regions for the 2010 regional elections in Indonesia.

Malaysia: Election Commission Studying Early Voting System, Bernama (2010).

This article discusses the posibility of implementing early voting system in Malaysia as it was studied by the Election Commission.

South Africa: Cope: Lack of elections led to leadership challenges, Mail and Guardian (2010)

The leadership of the Congress of the People (Cope) being decided on by consensus, instead of elections, led to questions of legitimacy, the party's secretary general, Charlotte Lobe, said in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Mozambique: Guebuza Appoints His New Govt, All Africa (2010)

The new government of Mozambique announced by President Armando Guebuza is a reflection of his party's vision for "continuity with change".

Second round election campaign unfolds in Ukraine today (NRCU, 2010)

Yesterday CEC reviewed the final results of the first round and appointed second round on February 7, 2010.

Ukraine to start printing ballots for second round of presidential election (Kyiv Post, 2010)

Ukraine Printing House will start printing voter ballots onJan. 26for the second round of the presidential election due on February 7, deputy chairwoman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Zhanna Usenko-Chorna said.

Observers may not need to re-register for second round of Ukrainian election (Kyiv Post, 2010)

Ukraine's Central Election Commission (CEC) is deliberating on whether registered official observers from foreign states and international organizations will need to re-register for the second round of the Ukrainian presidential election, CEC chairman Volodymyr Shapoval said.

Candidate bans may ease rancor of Egypt vote, Reuters (2012)

This news article says: A move to exclude some of the more divisive contenders from Egypt's presidential election may help moderate candidates seen as better able to forge the consensus many believe can foster a peaceful transition to democracy.

Algeria: EU launches observer mission ahead of election, The Daily Star (2012)

The EU launched its observer mission in Algeria Monday 16 April, ahead of May 10 legislative elections, the first time the 27-nation bloc is monitoring polls in the North African country."It is out of the question that we will interfere" in the election or the campaign, mission chief Jose Ignacio Salafranca, a member of the European parliament, told a news conference.

Kenya: IIEC media road shows set to spur voter registration, IIEC News (2010)

The Interim Independent Electoral Commission is embarking on radio focus groups and outside broadcasts that will run in several towns countrywide from 25th to 29th April, 2010. More than 17 local radio stations will run live outside broadcasts where IIEC officials and radio presenters will interact with the citizens. The shows are aimed at creating awareness and addressing the concerns of the people.

Kenya: Voter registration hits 7 million as EVR takes off, IIEC news (2010)

On 19th April and two weeks to end of the voter registration exercise, IIEC had registered 6,977,192 voters countrywide. The election management body targets 10 million before the end of the exercise on 5th May, 2010. The rise in the numbers could be attributed to electronic voter registration which kicked off in 18 constituencies on 12th April, three weeks after the manual system was launch on 22nd March, 2010. Curiosity and enthusiasm seem to drive people to registration centres. In some regions like Eldoret North, the over 50% of potential voters have already been registered using the new technology which captures biometric features of the voter.

Center-right Fidesz secures two-thirds majority in Hungarian elections (Deutsche Welle, 2010)

Hungary's center-right Fidesz party has won a two-thirds parliamentary majority in the second round of national elections, giving the new government sweeping powers to push through reforms and boost growth.

Ruling Socialists Defeated in Hungary Election (The Epoch Times, 2010)

With nearly all the votes counted in Hungary’s second round of parliamentary elections, the Fidesz Party, led by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, won more than two-thirds of the votes.