ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

ODIHR report says Croatia’s December elections pluralistic and transparent, recommends improvements to legal framework and compilation of voter lists, OSCE (2012)

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights on 3 February 2012 released the final report on Croatia’s parliamentary elections on 4 December 2011.

Croatia: OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission Final Report, OSCE (2012)

Report on Parliamentary elections, 4 December 2011

USA: 2012 Election Spending Race Heats Up, The Wall Street Journal (2011)

The article discusses major parties' attempts to raise money for the coming presidential elections in 2012.

UK: AV referendum passes, The Journal (2011)

The article discusses that the bill enabling the referendumon changing the voting system has been passed by both Houses of the Parliament in the UK.

Ireland: Angry electorate coldly voted to liquidate Fianna Fáil, The Irish Times (2011)

This article reports and comments the results of the general election in Ireland. After decades of Fianna Fáil dominance, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and the Labour Party won the election. The winners, however, were almost ignored by the press that focused on the once unthinkable Fine Gael's defeat.

Election candidates in Samoa pull out of race, Radio New Zealand (2011)

The article discusses the candidate nominations in Samoa general election. Three candidates have withdrawn their nominations for an unknown reason.

Ireland: Kenny and Gilmore to renew talks on forming coalition, The Irish Times (2011)

This article reports on the election talks that followed the general elections in Ireland. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore are holding meetings to discuss the possibility of a coalition government. Recounts are still going on in some districts, but the results are already impressive: the Labour Party had its best electoral performance ever and 17 Independent TDs were elected.

Pakistan: Election Commission defers EVM system, The Nation (2011)

The article discusses the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan to postpone the introduction of electronic voting system due to political parties' attitudes and possible costs.

Ireland: Kenny hails democratic revolution at ballot box, The Irish Times (2011)

This article discusses the results of the February general elections in Ireland. Fine Gael's success in the poll was described as "historic". Coalition talks are now underway, and Fine Gael, with almost twice as many seats as Labour, will expect at least nine seats in the Cabinet of a possible coalition government.

Ireland: Inaccessible voting stations 'inexcusable', The Irish Times (2011)

This article reports on the Irish Wheelchair Associations' statements on the general election management. According to this Association, thousands of voters with disability have been disenfranchised by a failure to provide fully accessible polling stations. Spokesman Micheal Doyle stated that approximately 750,000 people in Ireland have a disability together with their families, and that their right to vote of this significant portion of the electorate must never be taken for granted.

Ireland: Gains reflect 'reconquest' of Ireland, says Adams, The Irish Times (2011)

This article comments the results of the general election in Ireland. Sinn Féin has substantially increased its number of seats in the 166-members Dáil: from 5 TDs to 13 (maybe 1-2 more, as recounts are still going on). The party received over 10% of the votes, a significant increase since 2007 (6%) and 2002 (2.5%).

Ireland: Island voters undeterred by strong winds as turnout hits 76%, The Irish Times (2011)

This article reports on the voter turnout in Clare Island, Ireland. The weather was very discouraging, and only 15% of the eligible voters had voted by1 pm, but eventually turnout was almost 76% when the polling closed. Traditionally, Clare Island’s turnout has tended to be higher than the mainland. During the European and local elections in 2009, for example, turnout was about 70%. The total island electorate is 2,575.

Ireland: Fianna Fáil massacred as left secures first majority, The Irish Times (2011)

This article reports and comments the results in Dublin of the February general elections. Fianna Fail suffered a "dramatic annihilation" in the capital, where it won only 1 seat (19 before the election). According to the author, the Dublin results show the gravity of the party's fall down. In the capital's 47 Dáil seats, the poll brought major changes: the left parties (Labour, the United Left Alliance and Sinn Féin) won the majority of the seats for the first time (44% of the votes - 26 seats). The Labour Party alone doubled its number of seats (from 9 to 18), while the Green Party crashed from 8% to 3%. 544,790 people voted in Dublin.

Australia: Abbott carbon coats next election campaign, The Sydney Morning Herald (2011)

This article reports on the 2013 elections in Australia. According to Tony Abbot, opposition leader, the issue of the carbon tax will be fundamental in the upcoming election campaign.

Canada: NDP pitches referendum on scrapping the Senate, The Vancouver Sun (2011)

This article reports on a possible referendum in Canada. NDP leader, Jack Layton, stated that Canadians should vote in a special referendum to abolish the Senate. The party will present this proposal to the House of Commons on Tuesday, and it will also propose to create a parliamentary committee to review the electoral system. The New Democrats' leader believes that a mixed system of proportional representation and the current one would better reflect how Canadians vote.

Canada: The NDP is on the air, an election is in the wind, The Globe and Mail (2011)

This article reports and comments the new political advertisements currently on air in Canadian television. The NDP and the Conservative Party have released their new ads, and observers believe that the country is already in a pre-election campaign.

Canada: New wave of TV ads, partisan wars mimic election campaign, The Star (2011)

This article discusses the "pre-election" environment in Canada. Many observers believe that a new election is not scheduled for the spring, but parties and candidates are getting ready for a campaign. The New Democrats and the Conservatives released a new wave of TV ads, and the Liberal on the other hand have issued a preview of their future election platform.

Serbia’s elections open and highly competitive, additional transparency needed, Financial (2012)

Serbia’s parliamentary and early presidential elections on 6 May 2012 took place in an open and competitive environment, but additional efforts are needed to improve the transparency of the election process and the functioning of the media, international observers said in a statement issued.

Egypt holds runoffs for 1st-round Shura Council polls, Ahram Online (2012)

This news article says that Runoff elections for the first round of polling for Egypt’s Shura Council (the upper, consultative house of parliament) will kick off Tuesday (7 Feb), according to the timetable set by the High Elections Commission. Round two of Shura Council elections will begin on 14 February.

Nigeria oil hub risks unrest if Jonathan unable to run, Reuters Africa (2010)

This article discusses the potential for conflict if current President Goodluck Jonathan is not able to run in the upcoming presidential election. Unofficially the presidency rotates between the North and South of Nigeria.