ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

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Russia’s CEC to elect chairman, Itar-Tass (2011)

A new lineup of the Russian Central Elections Commission (CEC), who is to hold the general elections in 2011-2012, will start working on Monday.

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Amid voter apathy, Burkina Faso enters last week of presidential election campaign, VOA News (2010)

This article reports on the last week of campaigning in Burkina Faso. On Sunday, the 3.2 million eligible voters will cast their ballots to elect a new president, and President Blaise Compaoré is one of the front-runners. Compaoré seized power in a coup d'état in 1987, and won the 2005 elections with an overwhelming majority of the votes (80%). In the race, the incumbent President faces five opposition candidates, and Bénéwendé Sankara is his closest opponent (in 2005 he received 5% of the votes).

Guinea electoral commission declares Conde winner of run- off, Xinhua (2010)

This article reports on the final results of the presidential runoff in Guinea. The National Independent Electoral Commission announced that Alpha Conde won the second round of presidential elections with 52.52% of the votes, while his opponent, Cellou Dalein Diallo, received 47.48% of the votes. The voter turnout was lower than expected (67.67%): 2,898, 233 of the 4,270,531 registered voters participated. The Supreme Court will now confirm the results within three days.

Defeated poll candidate Diallo urges Guinea to 'avoid violence', The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This article reports on the initial reactions of the defeated presidential hopeful, Cellou Dalein Diallo, after the announcement of the initial results in Guinea. Diallo made an appeal to all his supporters, and asked them to remain calm and avoid provocation and violence. Meanwhile, Diallo asked the Supreme Court to investigate his complaints of widespread voting fraud (submitted earlier last week) before certifying the election results.

UN urges calm in Guinea after Conde named winner in presidential election, Bloomberg (2010)

This article reports on the reactions to the announcement of the results of the presidential elections in Guinea. The United Nations urged the people of Guinea to accept the results and the victory of Alpha Conde. This election marked the first democratic transfer of power since the country's independence.

The woman who would be Haiti's next president, TIME (2010)

This article presents one of the presidential hopefuls in Haiti, Mirlande Manigat. Ms Manigat, Sorbonne Ph.D. and former first lady, emerged as the clear front-runner in the electoral race (30%), while her closest opponent is President René Préval's hand-picked candidate, engineer Jude Celestin (22%). Experts believe that no candidate will win the 50% of the vote necessary to win the first round, so there will probably be a second round (January 16).

Cook Islands polls suggest significant public disquiet over election, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on a poll conducted in the Cook Islands regarding the general environment surrounding the upcoming elections. The poll show that many people are unhappy with the candidates standing in the election: a third of those interviewed don't like all of the available candidates to become prime prime minister, and half of the people still don't know who to vote for.

Cook Islands governing party says politicians support electoral reform, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the electoral reforms in the Cook Islands. On Wednesday, eligible voters will go to the polls for the general elections, but they will also vote for a referendum asking whether or not the number of MPs should be reduced. This referendum will provide a clear idea of what the citizens in the outer islands, currently under-represented, think about a possible electoral reform.

Calls for Tonga’s pro democracy groups to reach a broad agreement before elections, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the coalition building in Tonga. The leader of the Tonga Labour Party’s, Mele Amanaki, is calling for a broad agreement among all the pro-democracy groups, and invited all leaders to sign a memorandum of understanding before next week's election. For the first time, the MPs will elect the Prime Minister, and Ms Amanaki believes that the popularly elected MPs should form a coalition to resist the nobles' group.

Some votes in Cook Islands election already cast, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the voting operations in the Cook Islands. The electoral office has already received the postal ballots from the voters overseas. Voting has already taken place also in two outlying islands, and ballot boxes have already been secure in local banks.

Azerbaijani CEC considers appeals in connection with parliamentary elections

This article reports on the electoral disputes following the November 7 parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani Central Election Commission received 31 appeals, and decided to consider 26 of them.

Azerbaijan Rejects International Criticism Of Elections, RFE/RL (2010)

This article reports on the reaction of the government to the international criticism towards the elections in Azerbaijan. The Foreign Ministry expressed dissatisfaction with the criticism, and that the international mission's report points at several shortcomings, but praises the general management and fairness of the poll. The international observers, however, expressed particular concern about restrictions of fundamental freedoms, media bias and serious violations on election day.

2011: INEC to engage military in distribution of materials, The Nigerian Tribune (2010)

This article reports on the preparations for the 2011 general elections in Nigeria. The Independent National Electoral Commission stated that it will ask for the support of the military to distribute the electoral materials on time for the poll, a standard practice in such an exercise. The INEC is currently drafting guidelines to guarantee a successful and timely distribution.

Nigeria: Electoral Offences Tribunal Underway - Jega, AllAfrica (2010)

This article discusses the announcement of the Chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, about the creation of the Electoral Offenses Tribunal in Nigeria. Professor Jega stated that the National Assembly is currently discussing a law to establish such a Tribunal, and that the era of impunity in the electoral process is over.

Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi 'Likely’ to Run in Burma By-Election, VOA News (2011).

This article discusses the possibility of Aung San Suu Kyi to be a candidate in the by-election. The participation is possible following the change to party registration laws.

Myanmar needs to reform more, says Clinton, Asean Affairs (2011).

This article discusses the statement from U.S. Secretary of State on the the APEC summit on the support of reform in Myanmar and the hope to see the people able to participate fully in the political life.

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