ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

One in 4 Afghan Ballots Face Check for Fraud, The New York Times (2009)

This article provides information about the newest developments regarding fraud allegations in the recent presidential elections in Afghanistan.

Karzai rival concerned with Afghan vote count, Reuters (2009)

This article focuses on the reaction of President Karzai's main rival Abdullah Abdullah on the decision to recount only a sample of votes in Afghanistan's presidential elections

Analysis - UN's Afghan vote fraud row shows split in West, Reuters (2009)

This article reports on the latest developments regarding election fraud in the most recent elections. It specifically reflects upon the latest in a series of events when a veteran U.S. diplomat accused his Norwegian UN boss of blocking anti-fraud efforts.

New rules increase chances of Karzai victory, The Globe and Mail (2009)

As the vote recount begins, the chances of President Karzai to be re-elected seem to increase.

U.N. Data Show Discrepancies in Afghan Vote, The Washington Post (2009)

The voter turnout data that has been kept confidential by the UN shows that in some provinces the official vote count exceeded the estimated number of voters by 100,000 or more.

President Karzai: War on Terror Against Al Qaeda Not in Afghanistan, Election Was 'Good and Fair', ABC News (2009)

Despite fraud and irregularities, President Karzai considers the recent elections "good and fair and worthy of praise."

Afghan election run-off likely in November - ex diplomat, Reuters (2009)

Diplomatic sources expect President Karzai to get less than 50% after the re-count, which will lead to run-off elections that might take place as soon as November.

Afghanistan: Karzai 'stripped of outright win', BBC News (2009)

The Electoral Complaints Commission ordered ballots from 210 polling stations to be discounted as it found "clear and convincing evidence of fraud." Based on these results, run-off election seems inevitable.

Afghan election officials fired ahead of run-off, Reuters (2009)

As President Karzai faces Abdullah Abdullah in run-off elections, the heads of more than half of Afghanistan's district election offices will be replaced in order to prevent fraud.

Security fears over hasty Afghan run-off: poll boss, Reuters (2009)

Election authorities are concerned about the security situation during the run-off presidential elections. It is unclear whether security forces will have enough time to secure thousands of voting stations only a few weeks before the scheduled elections.

Afghans hurry to stage election runoff, The Guardian (2009)

The UN starts delivering ballot kitts across Afghanistan, while the number of polling stations is reduced by 7, 000 and 200 out of the 2, 950 district election coordinators are replaced in an effort to reduce fraud.

Afghan contender considers boycott, ABC News (2009)

Ramazan Bashardost who came in third in the first round of presidential elections considers urging a boycott of a run-off election scheduled for November 7.

Call to sack Afghan election head, BBC News (2009)

One of the conditions for a fair second round of elections set by Abdullah Abdullah today is that the chief of the Indepedent Election Commission, who according to Abdullah has no credibility, be sacked.

Tensions soar as Karzai rejects opponent's call to fire election officials, The Globe and Mail (2009)

The tension between President Karzai and his opponent Abdullah Abdullah reached new heights as Karzai rejected Abdullah's demand to fire a high profile list of election officials.

Fraud fears grow as Afghan election body defies UN, The Guardian (2009)

The Independent Election Commission announced that it plans to open 155 more polling stations than during the first round of the presidential elections, despite the UN claims that there will be a reduction in order to limit fraud.

Abdullah pulls out of Afghan vote, BBC News (2009)

President Karzai's rival in the second round of presidential elections scheduled for November 7, 2009, Abdullah Abdullah announced that he is withdrawing from the poll.

Afghanistan: UN chief in Kabul as pressure mounts over run-off vote, Reuters (2009)

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is to meet President Karzai and his opponent Abdullah as pressure grows to abandon the plans for a run-off election after the withdrawal of Abdullah.

Karzai Gets New Term as Afghan Runoff is Scrapped, The New York Times (2009)

Independent Electoral Commission canceled Saturday's run-off elections, after Abdullah Abdullah withdrew from the race, and declared Hamid Karzai a winner.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai vows inclusive government, Times Online (2009)

Re-elected President Karzai has vowed to form an inclusive government and promised to get rid of corruption.

Afghanistan's Abdullah says Karzai re-election lacks legitimacy, VOA News (2009)

President Karzai's main opponent called president's re-election illegal and said that the government installed under such circumstances will not be able to fight corruption.