ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Namibia: Swapo leads...As RDP suffers heavy defeats, New Era (2010)

The article reports on the election results in the regional election taking place in Namibia. It is reported that the rulling Swapo party is in a confortable lead.

Severity of problems in Haiti vote is disputed, The New York Times (2010)

This article reports on the ongoing discussion on the credibility of the Sunday elections in Haiti. International observers stated that reports of voting irregularities and widespread fraud are not serious enough to invalidate the election. The observation team witnessed confused voters, name missing from the registration lists and poll workers offering incorrect information.

Monitors say Haiti vote fraud not massive, The Washington Post (2010)

This article reports on the statements of the international electoral observers regarding the Sunday election in Haiti. The observers called for the vote-counting to continue and results to be respected, arguing that the irregularities witnessed could not be considered part of "massive fraud".

Haiti: Post-election Statement, General Elections, OAS-CARICOM (2010)

This is the post-election statement released by the OAS-CARICOM Joint Electoral Observation Mission in Haiti. The mission observed the presidential and legislative election held on November 28 in the country. This statement discusses the events before the elections, and the Election Day itself, providing a preliminary analysis and a series of recommendations.

Ugandan opposition sees 'flawed' election next year likely, VOA News (2010)

This article reports on the statement of the leader of the main opposition Forum for Democratic Change regarding the next elections in Uganda. According to the leader of the FDC, Doctor Kizza Besigye, there are strong indications the government will “inherently” rig next year’s general election. The voter registration activities in the past months, for example, were not credible at all according to Doctor Besigye.

Kenya polls body to bar candidates over ethics, Daily Nation (2010)

This article talks about the efforts that the IIEC is making as an effort to implement the and enforce the Constitution of Kenya Chapter 6 that talks of the qualities of a an elected leader. The Commission intends to provide for a vetting period after receiving nomination papers from the political parties where the electorate can raise queries before they publish the final list of candidates to participate in the by-election.

Spain: Catalan Socialist Party suffers poll reversal in regional elections, The Irish Times (2010)

This article discusses the outcomes of the regional election in Catalonia, Spain, and their effects on the national politics in general. The ruling Socialist Party suffered a harsh defeat, and many believe that this is just an anticipation of next years' general elections.

Tonga’s Pohiva attributes election success to education, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article comments the results of the November 26 elections in Tonga. The Friendly Islands Democratic Party won 13 of the 26 seats at stake in the assembly and it is currently negotiating with independents to create a coalition government. None of the 11 women candidates succeeded in the election, and now there's a call for the new Tonga government to appoint women to cabinet.

Uganda: Electoral Commission silent on Kawooya’s disputed nomination, Daily Monitor (2010)

This article talks of Commission's on the nomination of a candidate for the General election from the Sembabule District after allegation of her academic qualifications not being at the required standard.

Long term remedy needed for lack of women in Cook Island’s parliament, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the statement of the Cook Islands National Council of Women regarding women's representation in parliament. Apparently, only one woman candidate was successful in the general elections (Democratic Party), down from three in the previous parliament. The President of the National Council of Women, Vaine Wichman, called for the parties to do more about this issue.

Final results give Cook Islands Party two-thirds majority, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the final results for the elections and the referendum in the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands Party won 16 seats in the parliament (a two-thirds majority), while the Democratic Party gained just 8 seats. The Electoral Office has also announced there was a 59.2 % vote in favor of the referendum on reducing the number of seats in parliament, but that it did not reach the necessary two-thirds majority.

Azerbaijan: Court confirms parliamentary election results, News.az (2010)

The article informs that Azerbaijan's constitutional court confirmed the results of November 7 Parliamentary Elections in its session of 29 November. Out of 59 complaints 1 had been returned and 58 rejected.

Philippines: Comelec, DOJ to resume probe on vote rigging in 2004 polls, The Philippine Star (2011).

This article discusses the resume of investigation by Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) joint panel on other personalities involved in electoral fraud of the 2004 presidential elections.

México: Ex-governor to seek Mexican presidency, Fox News Latino (2011)

Former Mexico state Gov. Enrique Peña Nieto said he planned to seek the nomination of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, for the 2012 presidential election.

Thailand's parliament elects Yingluck Shinawatra as PM, BBC (2011).

This article discusses the election of Yingluck Shinawatra as Prime Minister by Thailand lower house. She is the first female Prime Minister for Thailand.

Singapore: Many still appear confused as to what Elected Presidency is all about, Today Online (2011).

This article discusses voters’ confusion on the roles and responsibility of President elect in Singapore.

Syria's Assad sets parliamentary poll date, Aljazeera (2012)

This news article says that Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, has issued a decree stating that parliamentary elections will be held on May 7, even as Kofi Annan, the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria, awaited a response from Damascus on "concrete proposals" he put forward to end the conflict raging in the country.

Egypt: Hundreds prepare candidacies as presidential election campaign kicks off

This news article says that at least 500 Egyptians have taken the first step to run for president, a sign of the excitement generated by the country’s first presidential elections in which the outcome is in doubt, election officials said on Wednesday 13 March.

South Africa: ‘ANC worried about DA's growing black support’, SABCNews (2012)

It is reported that the Democratic Alliance (DA) and its leader, Helen Zille went on a campaign trail on the Cape West coast. The area is expected to have by-election on Wednesday.

Costa Rica: What Democracy Looks Like in Costa Rica, The Nation (2007)

"If Americans want to find evidence of democracy, they might look south to the Latin American republic of Costa Rica -- where voters will decide Sunday on whether they want their country to sign onto the Central American Free Trade Agreement that is currently being promoted by the White House, The Wall Street Journal and the multinational corporations that are the generous the patrons of both those institutions."