ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Expanding Democracy: Voter Registration Around the World

Publication by Jennifer Rosenberg and Margaret Chen (Brennan Center for Justice) on Voter Registration practices in a number of countries.

British Virgin Islands: Young voters ready for elections, BVI Beacon (2011)

Youth in the British Virgin Islands, both those living at home and those studying abroad, are showing a keen interest in the upcoming elections. The Supervisor of Elections, Juliette Penn says her office has registered a significant number of youth in recent times, who she says are excited about voting. Candidates have also noted the enthusiasm among the youth and are making this group a major focus in their campaign activities.

Uganda:Police arm heavily ahead of elections, Daily Monitor (2011)

This article talks about the preparation the Ugandan Police as they prepare for any eventuality on the run-up to the February 18th 2011 General Elections in Uganda. The article explains the show of might by the police from its new fleet of equipment acquired from China and imported through the neighboring Tanzanian port of of Dar es Salaam. It further gives the reaction of the Shadow Internal Affairs Minister to the timing of the acquisition of anti riot equipment and a response to the reaction by the NRM spokeperson to the Shadow Ministers allegations.

Kenya: IEBC handed cash boost for polls,Daily Nation(2012)

The article talks about how the money will be used in concluding the on-going exercise of delimiting boundaries, voter education, electoral operations, and building peace in the hotspots that have experienced political violence every election year.

Kenya:Five million to get IDs before elections,Kenya(2012)

The article talks about the new ID (look) being proposed by the ministry of immigration and Registration of persons

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Belize’s UDP Wins Narrow Re-election; Opposition Gains Eight Seats,Caribbean Journal (2012)

Belize’s ruling United Democratic Party has won the country’s general elections with a total of 17 out of 31 seats at the close of the March 7 polls.

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Jamaica: 478 candidates nominated for Local Gov't polls, Jamaica Observer (2012)

A total of 478 candidates were nominated to contest the March 26 local government polls with the opposition JLP fielding 228 candidates and the ruling PNP fielding 227.

Egypt: Protests against military rule cloud election, Reuters (2011)

This news article says that protesters rallied again in Cairo on Sunday 27 November, to try to evict Egypt's ruling generals. The parliamentary election that gets under way on Monday and Tuesday 28-29 November, is the first step in a transfer to civilian rule, promised by the ruling army council that replaced Mubarak.

Morocco Islamists poised to win parliamentary vote, Reuters (2011)

This news article says that Morocco's moderate Islamist PJD party is on course to win a parliamentary election, partial results showed on Saturday 26 November, in what would be the second victory for Islamists in the region in the wake of the "Arab Spring" uprisings. Incomplete results from Friday's vote indicate that PJD will lead a coalition government in partnership with the secularist party of the outgoing prime minister and two other groups.

Yemen sets Presidential Election date, VoA (2011)

In this news article; Yemen has announced a February 21 date for presidential elections, just days after President Ali Abdullah Saleh accepted a deal that calls for him to transfer power to a subordinate. Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi issued a decree on Saturday 26 November, for the early voting.

Morocco: Islamist party wins power for first time, The Telegraph (2011)

Nationwide election results released on Sunday 27 November, showed a majority for the Islamic Justice and Development Party (PJD), with 107 of the parliament’s 395 seats.

Hamas says Palestinians quietly decide to keep rival governments until elections, Fatah denies, Washington Post (2011)

The Palestinians’ rival leaders have quietly decided to keep their respective governments in the West Bank and Gaza in place until elections, a senior Hamas figure told The Associated Press. A representative of Hamas’ rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, denied that such a deal was struck. Abbas envoy Azzam al-Ahmed insisted there was no agreement and “no possibility of holding elections without a unity government.”

Egypt's undecided voters brace for complex poll, Reuters (2011)

This news article says that Egyptians go to the polls on Monday (28 November) for the country's first free parliamentary election in living memory, but many don't know where to vote, let alone who they should vote for. Voters, emerging from decades of oppression, will have to choose between a confusing mass of candidates and rival parties.

Egypt: Violence at polling booths could derail elections, The Independent (2011)

This news article says that even before being spattered with protesters' blood and blurred by tear gas, Egypt's elections were convoluted. Conducted in three rounds, so that independent judges can monitor all polling booths, the elections are based on two ballots: one for party lists and the other for individual candidates – with a counting system that, a day ago, had yet to be decided. Now, with at least 42 protesters killed and over 2,000 injured in the past week, some people want an election boycott, as a part of continued protests against Egypt's military rulers – the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf).

Egypt: Eye on elections, International monitors now welcomed, Almasry Alyoum (2011)

Following tension over allowing international vote monitoring in Egypt's elections, the Egyptian government now says it is welcoming international observers to “witness” the parliamentary polls, slated to kick off tomorrow in some parts of the country.

Guyana: No massive tampering of votes - APNU's Granger, Demerara Wave, 2012

The main opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Sunday for the first time openly conceded that verification of the results would not change the outcome of the general and regional elections held almost two months ago.

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