ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

USA: Midterm elections 2010: it's not all bad news for Barack Obama, The Telegraph (2010)

This article discusses the outcomes of the November 2 midterm elections in the United States. According to the author, the Republicans are in a difficult position: this party will control the House, but the Democratic party still holds the majority in the Senate, and a split Congress usually means deadlock. The author argues that in the next two years, the Republicans will try to repeal President Obama's reforms, something that the Senate will never allow. Both parties are already looking forward to the 2012 presidential elections.

USA: Election results are open to (careful) interpretation, The Washington Post (2010)

This article discusses the outcomes of the midterm elections in the US. According to the author, the Republican Party is "overinterpreting" the mandate of an election, while President Obama is "underinterpreting" the message of the American voters. The results of the midterm also showed Mr. Obama how much work he has to do to turn around his presidency, and win a second term in 2012.

USA: Election 2010: Where will the weather matter? The Washington Post (2010)

This article reports on a recent study that analyzes the relation between the weather and the voter turnout in the United States. According to this study, bad weather played a role in a few races of interest in the midterm elections. The study was able to quantify this relations: heavy rain reduces voter turnout by roughly 1% for every inch of rain above normal, while snow reduces turnout by .5% per inch. It is also interesting to notice how the weather influences the actual results: Republican presidential candidates gain 2.5% for every inch of rain above normal, and .6% for every inch of snow.

Fears of unrest, fraud threaten Haiti elections - think tank, Reuters AlertNet (2010)

This article discusses the many issues that threaten to undermine the credibility of the forthcoming elections in Haiti. Fears of social unrest, fraud allegations, incomplete voter lists and expected low turnout are the main issues that the Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council will have to face before the November 28 elections. The author also presents and discusses a report by senior Haiti analyst, Bernice Robertson, released by the International Crisis Group in Brussels.

Monitors to oversee Tonga’s election, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the international observers that will visit Tonga for this month's elections. The Tonga caretaker government asked a number of countries to provide external oversight, and the New Zealand authorities stated that they will send six or seven observers.

American Samoa votes, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the voting operations in American Samoa. Voters will cast their ballots to elect local House of Representatives (18 of the 21 members), as well as their representative in the United States Congress. Voters will also be asked to vote in a constitutional referendum with several proposals, the most controversial would give the territory the power to "stop the enforcement of any US law that is detrimental to American Samoa’s economy and welfare of its people".

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Republicans tipped to secure Guam governorship, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the electoral controversy regarding the gubernatorial elections in Guam. Unofficial results gave the Republicans a 583-vote margin over the Democratic ticket, and the party is already claiming a victory. Given the slim margin, the Guam Election Commission will meet to decide whether or not a recount is needed.

Vanuatu seeks input to accommodate customs in electoral law, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the Vanuatu government's request to discuss in parliament how to integrate customary rules in the country's electoral law. For example, if a candidate makes a traditional gesture to the chiefs and his people, it can be regarded as bribery according to the electoral law (in 2008, members of the parliament lost their seats because of this).

American Samoa releases preliminary election results, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the preliminary results for the elections in American Samoa. The incumbent delegate Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin served in the US Congress for 11 terms, becoming the longest-serving member, but a 12th term is not assured. For the constitutional referendum the no votes were 517 while the yes votes 336.

American Samoans choose Faleomavaega to return to US Congress, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports the final results for the elections in American Samoa. Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin has been re-elected as American Samoa’s delegate to US Congress, receiving 6176 votes (his closest opponent received 4438 votes). In the referendum, the changes to the constitutions were rejected by 7,410 voters against 3,149 in favor.

Candidate in Tonga elections says family and community links will be feature in polls, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the statements of a union leader who is running in the November 25 elections in Tonga. The head of the Public Servants Association, Mele Amanaki, stated that in the upcoming elections family and community links will be the most telling feature this year, as the new electorates are much smaller and village-based.

Northern Marianas: CNMI re-elects Sablan to US Congress, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports the final results of the election in the Northern Marianas. The incumbent Gregorio Sablan has been re-elected as the non-voting delegate to the US Congress. Mr Sablan received an overwhelming majority of the votes (4,902 against 2,744 of his opponent). The voter turnout for the elections was quite low, 60%.

Overtime for Samoa electoral staff, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the voter registration activities in Samoa. Elections staff are working over time to register new voters and change the constituencies for voters who wish to do so. This registration operations, however, closes today and the general elections are scheduled for March.

Voters in Guam wait for results of Governor’s race, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the delays in the vote counting operations in Guam. The voters will have to wait another day for the final results of the gubernatorial elections. The Election Commission was supposed to hold a meeting yesterday to decide whether or not a recount was needed (because of the slim margin - 583 votes - that divide the two candidates), but the meeting has not taken place yet. The controversy started after Republican Senator Eddie Calvo started celebrating his victory before the release of the final results.

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Canada: Infographic: Why people didn’t vote in the 2011 federal election, National Post (2011)

This article discusses the findings of the recently published findings of Statistics Canada on the primary reasons Canadians did not vote in the 2011 Federal election.

Coalition to set election dates this week, Croatiantimes.com (2011)

Croatian parliamentary election dates will set this week. According to some sources 20 or 27 November are under consideration.

Opposition unhappy at election date, The Warsaw Voice (2011)

The leftwing opposition (Democratic Left Alliance) criticized the decision of President Komorowski to hold parliamentary elections on 9 October 2011. According to them the short campaign would benefit the ruling party (Civic Platform).

Kyiv unable to tell investors date of mayoral elections, KyivPost (2011)

Because the amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine extended mayor`s service time from 4 to 5 years now it is not clear when the next mayoral election is to be held. The previous snap elections were held on May 2008 but after amendment of the Constitution next elections expected not in 2012 but in 2013.