ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

French Guiana, Martinique vote against more autonomy, France 24 International News (2010)

Almost 70% of voters in French Guiana rejected more autonomy from France, while a similar result was seen in a referendum in Martinique, where more autonomy was rejected by 79% of voters. The mayor of Guiana's capital Cayenne remarked that the campaign and the referendum result were driven by the question of financing.

Costa Rica Braces for Tight Presidential Election, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

"Costa Rica’s next presidential election might need a run-off and the second round could see a tight finish, according to a poll by Unimer published in La Nación. 40.9 per cent of respondents would vote for the ruling Liberal National Party (PLN) candidate Laura Chinchilla in next month’s ballot, down 2.1 points since November."

Georgia: Parliament Elects New CEC Chairman, Civil.ge (2010)

The article reports that Georgian Parliament has elected a new chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) for a five-year term. The Parliament elected CEC chairman among three candidates nominated by the President of Georgia. The new chair of the CEC is Zurab Kharatishvili, a member of public broadcaster’s board of trustees since February, 2008.

Son Of Jailed Kyrgyz Politician Vows To Challenge Government, RFE/RL (2010)

The article reports about opposition political movement to be formed against the acting Kyrgyz government. The initiator of this movement is Ruslan Isakov, the son of a Kyrgyz polititian Ismail Isakov, who broke with Bakiev's government in 2008 and joined the opposition. Soon after, Ismail Isakov was put into prison for corruption and his son lives in self-imposed exile in the United States. Ruslan Isakov's goal is to create a political movement abroad to challenge "the antidemocratic regime of President Kurmanbek Bakiev", which is taking Kyrgyzstan to "a catastrophic downfall" as "journalists are being killed, the population is getting poorer, and opposition leaders are declared 'enemies of the nation.'"

Observation of parliamentary elections in Tajikistan, OSCE/ODIHR (2010)

The press release reports about starting an Election Observation Mission of OSCE/ODIHR in Tajikistan, which will observe 28 February 2010 parliamentary elections.

Armenia: Prison term for opposition activist revives democratisation debate, EurasiaNet (2010)

The article writes that seven-year prison sentence was handed down to opposition activist and journalist Nikol Pashinian on January 19 for his alleged role in Armenia’s violent 2008 election protests. Pashinian, editor-in-chief of the opposition daily Haykakan Zhamanak, led crowds of young protestors through central Yerevan during demonstrations against the 2008 presidential election that brought President Serzh Sargsyan to power. The newspaper editor, wanted for allegedly helping to organize clashes between police and protestors that resulted in at least 10 deaths, emerged from hiding in July 2009 after the announcement of a presidential amnesty for individuals detained after the violence.

Albania: Observation Report, General Election, Robert Schuman Foundation (2009)

This observation report includes analysis and results of the 28th June 2009 general election. The report describes the structure of the Albanian Parliament and the parties and groups present in the parliament. There is analysis of the electoral administration and the issues at stake in the election. (Translated from French)

Presidential Election in Romania 22nd November and 6th December 2009 (Robert Schuman Fondation 2009)

Report and Analysis

General Elections in Bulgaria, 5th July 2009 (Robert Schuman Fondation 2009)

Results and Analysis

General Elections of 29th July 2009 (Robert Schuman Fondation 2009)

Analysis and Results

General Elections in Lithuania, 12th October 2008 (Robert Schuman Fondation 2008)

Results and Analysis

Presidential Election in Lithuania, 17th May-7th June 2009 (Robert Schuman Fondation 2009)

Results and Analysis

Out of war's shadow, Sri Lanka votes for president, Reuters (2010)

The article provides updated information about the election day in Sri Lanka, where polling was smooth despite blasts before polling in the northern city of Jaffna (Sri Lanka's Tamil cultural center) and a petrol bomb attack. No one was injured however, and the election day did not prove as bloody as the electoral campaign itself.

Army, police called to quell St Kitts election disturbance, Jamaica Observer (2010)

Armed police and soldiers were called in one of the closely watched battleground constituencies in St Kitts after angry voters protested against what they perceived as election irregularities. The protests came after the opposition candidate for the constituency made several allegations about the indelible ink used to identify people who had already voted and filed an official complaint. The Elections Supervisor has however stated that overall he is satisfied with the safeguarding of the election process.

Bangladesh moves to ban religion-based parties, RTT News (2010)

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has issued a directive to three Islamic parties, ordering them to change their charters, found to be in conflict with the Constitution and the Representation of People Order. The Election Commission identified several problematic provisions, such as the fact that these parties do not acknowledge any other entity other than Allah as the sovereign and supreme being, which is seen by the Commission as undermining the authority of the parliament.

Netherlands Antilles casts last vote as a country, AP/Taiwan News (2010)

Giving the majority of votes to the Prime Minister's party, the voters in Netherlands Antilles gave support to the constitutional change, which will dismantle the islands into separate entities by October 10, 2010. While the islands of Curacao and St Maarten will become autonomous countries within the Dutch kingdom, the islands of Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire will become special Dutch municipalities, responding directly to the Dutch government. The voter turnout at the elections was 65%.

Singapore: GE: "Lots of debates within PAP", Channel News Asia (2011)

This article reports that Channel News Asia held a TV forum with Singapore’s Prime Minister, a first live dialogue on television between the Prime Minister and voters held ahead of the coming General Election.

Thailand: Gen Prayuth calls for big voter turnout, Bangkok Post (2011)

This article reports that Thai Army Chief, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha called for a large voter turnout in the coming general election.

India's Electronic Voting Machines Are Insecure, Study Finds, PC World (2010)

Indian electronic voting machines (EVMs) are vulnerable to fraud, researchers said this week, and advocated that a paper trail should be maintained to verify the results of balloting.

Vote Delay in Central African Republic Could Extend President's Term, VOA News (2010)

Elections in the Central African Republic have been postponed for a second time, raising the likelihood that the president will remain in office past the end of his June mandate.