ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Nigerian Election Officials Train Ahead of January’s Voter Registration Nigerian Election Officials Train Ahead of January’s Voter Registration Voanews.com (2010)

In order to have credible elections, Nigerian officials are being trained on a 12-steps program on voter’s registration.

Ivory Coast Waits for Vote Results Voanews.com

As the votes are being counted in Côte d’Ivoire. The campaigns for peace have started.

Georgia: Opposition Wants Ruling Party’s Response by End-May, Civil.ge (2011)

The article reports about the crisis in elections talks between Georgia's ruling and opposition parties. The group of eight opposition parties, as well as some half a dozen other parties, has been engaged in talks on electoral system reform with the ruling party within the framework of the Election Code Working Group (ECWG) since November 2010, facilitated by the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES). Recently the ruling party has said that it would engage in consultations “separately with individual parties”.

Armenia: Government, Opposition Hold “Open” Dialogue Behind Closed Doors, EurasiaNet (2011)

The article reports about the internal political developments in Armenia, mainly connected with the talks between the government and the main opposition block. While the talks are called "open", they are being held behind closed doors and without informing the public. Meanwhile, ordinary population feel deceived and alienated from the processes.

Sacked Kyrgyz Prosecutor-General To Run For President, RFE/RL (2011)

The article informs that former acting Kyrgyz Prosecutor-General Kubatbek Baibolov is going to run for president in this fall's election. President Roza Otunbaeva sacked Baibolov as the country's acting prosecutor-general on March 31 for his wife's alleged involvement in corrupt financial deals with MegaCom, the country's leading communications service provider, and Baibolov's failure to pursue criminal charges against MegaCom officials after they bought his family's house. Babanov, the head of the Respublika party, is considered by many to be a potential presidential candidate.

Canada: Ontario moves against election trickery, Globe and Mail (2011)

After a significant amount of complaints from voters claiming they were called on election day and told their polling station had changed to what was actually a false address, Canada's most populated province has introduced legislation making it illegal to actively attempt to dissuade citizens from voting. The article touches on key aspects of this new legislation.

México. Cost of 2012 Presidential Elections Announced, InsideCostaRica (2011)

The 2012 Presidential Elections in Mexico will cost 180 million pesos (some 14.8 million US dollars), reported Monday Mexico''s Federal Electoral Institute (IFE).

Mexico: Mexican finance minister quits to run for president, Reuters (2011)

Mexican Finance Minister Ernesto Cordero resigned on Friday to run for president, though he faces a tough battle to win the ruling party's nomination and then beat the main opposition rival.

Ireland: Date of general election on the agenda, RTE News (2011)

This article reports on the latest updates from Ireland. On Wednesday, January 19, Prime Minister Brian Cowen will meet with Green Party leader John Gormley to discuss, among other things, the date of the next general elections.

Ireland: Coalition to discuss election timetable after Cowen win, The Irish Times (2011)

This article reports on the latest updates regarding the election timetable in Ireland. On Tuesday, January 18, Prime Minister Cowen won a confidence vote for his leadership in Fianna Fáil. The Prime Minister will now hold talks with Green Party leader John Gormley, and they will also discuss the timing of the next general election.

India: EC teams visit trouble-torn areas in West Bengal, The Hindu (2011)

This article reports on the ongoing mission of the six-member special Election Commission team in West Bengal. The team visited some of the districts recently affected by election-related and political violence, holding meetings with district officials and citizens.

Afghan poll court seeks to delay parliament formation, Reuters (2011)

This article reports on the latest updates on the elections in Afghanistan. A special court is currently examining the electoral complains presented after the September parliamentary election. Sadiqullah Haqiq, head of the tribunal, stated that the body has examined more than 430 complaints, but more time will be needed, and asked President Karzai to postpone the inauguration of the parliament.

The Lebanese electoral bazaar, Lebanon Now (2012)

This news article says that Lebanese voters can expect more differences and very little hope of change for the 2013 general elections. A disagreement over a controversial report released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this month, which stated that members of the diaspora did not want to vote from abroad, brought attention back to the lack of progress in drafting a new electoral law. Instituting a female quota in parliament and lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 are also issues politicians cannot agree on.

Myanmar tells Suu Kyi to stay out of politics, Channel News Asia (2011).

This article discusses reports from Myanmar state media regarding Myanmar’s home affairs ministry which has stated that Aung San Suu Kyi’s party’s activities had broken the law.

Thailand's ladyboys' pictures have election officials in a tizzy, Today Online (2011)

This article discusses the difficulty faced by transgender community to vote in the general elections because of confusion on ID cards picture.

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Thailand: 'There are three phases of vote buying in this year's Thai election', Today Online (2011)

This article discusses vote buying buying in Thailand’s 2011 general election. The statement from director of Suan Dusit Poll conclude that vote buying could be divided into three phases; period before candidate registration, on official election campaign and in final leg of the race.

Thailand: Thai troops accused of pre-vote intimidation, Brunei Times (2011)

This article reports complaints on Thai troops of intimidating Pheu Thai canvasser ahead the July 3 general elections.

Thailand: Voting from abroad: Thai voices from a distance, The Nation (2011).

This article discusses the registration for Thai voters to vote from abroad. The number of voters that have been registered for the July 3 General Election is 147,330.

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