ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

India: 'Paid news': Chavan challenges Election Commission, The Hindu (2010)

This article comments the response of the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan, to the hearings of the Election Commission on the 'paid news' controversy. Mr. Chavan - who is involved in the controversy - stated that the EC has no right to continue the hearings and that the High Cort or the Supreme Court should instead. The Commission officials replied that according to the 1951 Representation of the People Act, they have the the authority to inquire into such matters.

Czech Republic: Act of Law on Elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic (1995)

Act of Law No. 247/1995 Coll. of September 27th, 1995, on elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic and on change and amendment of other selected acts of law, amended by 212/1996 Coll., 243/1999 Coll., 204/2000 Coll., 64/2001 Coll., 491/2001 Coll., 204/2000 Coll. (part), 37/2002 Coll., 171/2002 Coll., 230/2002 Coll. (part), 230/2002 Coll., 62/2003 Coll., 418/2004 Coll., 323/2006 Coll., 480/2006 Coll.

Czech Republic: Act of Law on Association in Political Parties and Political Movements (1991)

Act of Law No. 424/1991 Coll., of October 2nd, 1991, on association in political parties and political movements, as amended by 468/1991 Coll., 68/1993 Coll., 189/1993 Coll., 117/1994 Coll., 296/1995 Coll., 296/1995 Coll. (part), 322/1996 Coll., 340/2000 Coll., 98/2001 Coll., 104/2001 Coll., 170/2001 Coll., 151/2002 Coll., 556/2004 Coll., 501/2004 Coll. and 342/2006 Coll.

Czech Republic: Constitutional Act of Law on the referendum on accession to EU (2002)

Constitutional Act of Law No. 515/2002 Coll. of November 14th, 2002, on the referendum on accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union and the change of Constitutional Act of Law No. 1/1993 Coll., the Constitution of the Czech Republic, as amended

Uganda: Prisoners may not vote in 2011 elections, The New Vision (2010)

This article reports on the Electoral Commission's voter registration updates. The EC announced that probably inmates will not be able to vote in the next year's presidential and parliamentary elections. As a matter of fact, currently there are no provisions for holding registration in detention centers.

Belgium: Final Report, Federal Elections, OSCE (2007)

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) published this report after an Election Assessment Mission in Belgium. OSCE officials observed the 2007 federal elections in the country. The report presents the legal framework of the Belgian elections, the preparations for the elections, focusing on the campaign (important in a linguistically-divided country). Special attention was given to the electronic voting system that was covering 44% of the electorate.

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Nigeria:No new voters’ register for 2011 elections - Senator Adeleke, The Nigerian Tribune (2010)

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that there will be no new voter register for the 2011 presidential election due to time constraints. The list will, however, be put on display and voters will be able to apply to make changes or have their name included on the list.

Solomons’ election candidate calls for delay in poll due to bad weather, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

Mua James Rafu, a candidate in the Vatud constituency has asked that the election in the region be delayed due to poor weather conditions which has impeded campaigning on the islands of Duff, Utupua, Vanikoro, Tikopia and Anuta.

Ireland: Fifty attend meeting to set up a new party, The Irish Times (2010)

This article reports on the intention to institute a new national political party in Ireland. 50 people attended a meeting in a pub in Kilkenny, to create a new party that would "replace Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael”. According to the promoter, Leo Armstrong, the provisional title of the party would be “The Irish Independents’ Party”.

Confidence handful of women candidates will do well in Solomons election, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

Only one woman has ever been elected to parliament in the Solomon Islands, but Sarah Dyer from the Women in Leadership programme is confident women will do well in the upcoming election. Twenty-five of the 509 candidates are women

Somaliland's presidential elections, The Economist-YouTube (2010)

This video is on the Somaliland Presidential Election took place on 26 June 2010, and on 10 July 2010 the Somaliland Supreme Court announced that the opposition leader Ahmed Silanyo has defeated the incumbent, President Dahir Riyale Kahin with 49% of the votes

Native activists erect blockade to keep federal official out of election, The Globe and Mail (2010)

This article reports on the protests of the native activists against federal elections officials. Barriere Lake community leaders stated that the federal government is interfering with their right to hold independent elections, and that they will not let election officials from the federal government come into their reserve. Elections Canada officials replied that they have no authority in the reserve, and that they will not oversee the elections.

Africa's year of elections: The democracy bug is fitfully catching on, The Economists (2010)

This article discusses the role of elections in the democratic processes in Africa. In the continent elections have become a normal occurrence, and this year in particular has witnessed remarkable developments. This article analyzes the factors that made it possible with a worried eye towards the future.

Ireland: Byelections should be held 'within six months', The Irish Times (2010)

This article presents the final report of the Oireachtas (Irish National Parliament) committee. This committee had to examine possible electoral reform measures, regarding in particular by-elections. The report stated that if a vacancy occurs in the Dáil, it must be filled out within 6 months in order to respect the principle of equality of representation. Furthermore, the report concluded that there is not compelling need to reform the current electoral system, but called for more effective voter education measures and the institution of an independent electoral commission.

Ireland: Call for voting age to fall to 17, The Irish Times (2010)

This article discusses the report of the parliamentary Committee on electoral reform. The Committee made a series of recommendations, but concluded that no major reform is needed. Among other things, the committee recommended to lower the legal voting age from 18 to 17 years old.

Solomon Islands:Election Date Will Not Change: Electoral Commission, The Solomon Times (2010)

The Chief Electoral Officer Polycarp Haununu confirmed that Temotu Vatud will have the same election date as the rest of the country. Some candidates wanted the date moved as inclement weather had made it difficult to campaign in the region.

Australia: Ban election gambling, MP says, The Sydney Morning Herald (2010)

This article discusses the proposal to ban betting on elections in Australia. Federal MP Micheal Johnson made this proposal, stating that it is inappropriate to bet on this delicate matters.

Burundi Parliamentary Vote Begins Friday, VOA (2010)

Opposition leaders have called for a boycott of the legislative elections scheduled to begin Friday. The opposition have accused both the Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) and President Pierre Nkurunziza of undermining the May 24 local elections.

Rwanda: RPF Supporters Bring Karongi to a Standstill, All Africa (2010)

A group of Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) members and supporters took to the streets of the Karongi district to support incumbent President Paul Kagame. Kagame is expected to campaign in the district early next week.