ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Estonian Parliamentary elections are closing in, The Baltic Times (2011)

Close contest expected between Reform and Center parties.

In 'E-stonia' election, mouseclick replaces pencil and paper, AFP (2011)

As hundreds of thousands of Estonians brace to put pencil to ballot paper in a general election, a swathe of the Baltic state's population is instead opting for a mouseclick.

Estonian Reform Party Maintains Lead in Polls, Paeevaleht Says, Bloomberg (2011)

 

Election Platforms Lack Ideas for Civic Involvement, ERR News (2011)

A new study by the think tank Praxis finds that campaign platforms for Estonia's elections are vague in their proposals for advancing citizen education and volunteer work.

Fake voter cards seized during Afghan parliamentary polls, Sify (2010)

This article reports on the election day in Afghanistan. A few hours after the elections began, officials seized fake voter registration cards in Kabul, the southern province of Helmand and in the northern province of Kunduz. Fraud has been one of them main issues in the preparation for this elections, but the Election Compliant Commission guaranteed that all the necessary measures have been taken.

Afghanistan: Explosion rattles Kabul before voting, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the situation in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on election day. Before the opening of the polling stations, an explosion spread panic in the streets. Taliban insurgents vowed to disrupt the poll.

Graft, poverty keep many Afghans away from polls, Reuters (2010)

This article discusses the likely voter turnout in the Afghan elections. Security issues will prevent many Afghans from voting, but even in stable regions the turnout is expected to be low. 11.4 million Afghans are eligible to vote, and a low turnout would greatly affect the credibility of the whole electoral process.

Scenarios: How Afghanistan's parliamentary poll might play out, Reuters (2010)

This article discusses the possible issues that might turn out in Afghanistan during the poll. A series of rocket attacks marked the start of the polling, and show very clearly how security could play out. Low turnout might also be a factor that would undermine the credibility of the elections. 17.5 million people registered to vote, but the election commission announced that only 11.4 million are eligible.

U.N. says premature to call Afghan poll a success, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the preliminary statement of the UN diplomat, Staffan de Mistura, about the Afghan elections. He stated that the Election Commission have done a great job, but it is very early to talk about a success.

Fraud and turnout weight on "miracle" Afghan poll, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the initial assessments on the parliamentary elections in Afghanistan. The election day was marred by a series of issues: widespread fraud was reported, as well as an unsettling low voter turnout. About 17 people have been killed across the country. According to the initials figures, 3.6 million out of the 11.4 eligible people voted. Preliminary results will be released on October 8, and the final results before October 30.

Indonesia: Small parties cry foul over new election bill, The Jakarta Post (2011)

This article notes that small parties in Indonesia are opposed to the proposal to set Parliamentary Threshold at 3% at the national as well as provincial and regional councils, proposed in the bill on Legislative Election which amends the 2008 Law. It also notes the rejection of political observers in the country, arguing that such stipulation will render the election result undemocratic.

Sri Lanka Election Commissioner to meet leaders of political parties, Colombo Page (2011)

The article discusses the Sri Lanka Election Commissioner's decision to call political party leaders to a special discussion 22 February. The focus of the meeting is the violation of election regulations by the candidates.

Pakistan: ECP, NADRA to join hands to prepare ‘Electoral Rolls-2011’, Associated Press of Pakistan (2011)

The article discusses the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan to prepare electoral rolls 2011 in cooperation with NADRA. Door-to-door enumeration for voters’ registration will start in June after completion of house listing by the Statistics Division.

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Two former Samoa MPs kept off electoral roll, Radio New Zealand (2011)

The article describes the Supreme Court ruling in Samoa to exclude two former MP's from the electoral rolls of next month's elections. Both MP's had lost their seats in the parliament because of bribery and treating.

Swiss move ahead with e-voting, Swissinfo (2011)

The article discusses the increasing interest in e-voting in Switzerland. In the last referendum on tightening gun laws more than 25,000 Swiss cast their vote over the internet. Several cantons have also expressed an interest in providing e-voting facilities during federal elections in October 2011.

The UK: MPs reject 40% threshold plan for the AV referendum, BBC News (2011)

The article discusses the parliemsnt's decision to overturn a proposal to make the 5 May voting system referendum non-binding unless 40% of the electorate take part in the poll. The threshold was said to encourage people to stay at home.

UNDP - Bosnia and Herzegovia

This link leads to the UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovia country page.

UNDP - Anguilla

 

UNDP - Antigua and Barbuda