ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Netherlands Antilles casts last vote as a country, AP/Taiwan News (2010)

Giving the majority of votes to the Prime Minister's party, the voters in Netherlands Antilles gave support to the constitutional change, which will dismantle the islands into separate entities by October 10, 2010. While the islands of Curacao and St Maarten will become autonomous countries within the Dutch kingdom, the islands of Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire will become special Dutch municipalities, responding directly to the Dutch government. The voter turnout at the elections was 65%.

Singapore: GE: "Lots of debates within PAP", Channel News Asia (2011)

This article reports that Channel News Asia held a TV forum with Singapore’s Prime Minister, a first live dialogue on television between the Prime Minister and voters held ahead of the coming General Election.

Thailand: Gen Prayuth calls for big voter turnout, Bangkok Post (2011)

This article reports that Thai Army Chief, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha called for a large voter turnout in the coming general election.

India's Electronic Voting Machines Are Insecure, Study Finds, PC World (2010)

Indian electronic voting machines (EVMs) are vulnerable to fraud, researchers said this week, and advocated that a paper trail should be maintained to verify the results of balloting.

Vote Delay in Central African Republic Could Extend President's Term, VOA News (2010)

Elections in the Central African Republic have been postponed for a second time, raising the likelihood that the president will remain in office past the end of his June mandate.

Afghan parliamentary election fraud 'inevitable without reform', The Telegraph (2010)

The unpublished report on fraud in last year's presidential poll said the risk of similar cheating was inevitable without widespread reform.

Mount Lebanon Municipal Election: Aoun Defeated in Jbeil, Comes First in Hadath, Murr Biggest Winner in Metn, Nahar Net (2010)

Municipal election in Mount Lebanon has ended peacefully despite fierce battles in Hadath and Jbeil, and Lebanon on Monday braced for official results.

30% of young Czechs want to go to polls (Prague Daily Monitor, 2010)

Prague, April 30 (CTK) - A mere one third of young Czechs under 26 are interested in taking part in elections, daily Pravo writes Friday referring to a survey on youth's political awareness and participation Ipsos Tambor agency has conducted for the National Institute of Children and Youth.

India: Election Commission gears up for counting of votes on Friday, The Hindu (2011)

Votes for the Indian election are being counted in 839 counting halls under the guard of an "elaborate three tier security arrangement." Different types of modern technology, including video recording and a computerized counting system, are being used to ensure efficiency and the prevention of malpractice. The article also touches briefly on voter participation demographics as well as some of the challenges to election fairness and overall voter turnout.

Zanzibar: I'm running again for presidency, says Seif, The Citizen (2010)

The Civic United Front (CUF) secretary-general, Mr Seif Sharif Hamad, has declared his intention to contest the Zanzibar presidency in the October elections.

Polls in Gagauzia on the brink of failure – election commission, allmolodva.com (2012)

Foreseen election to the popular assembly in the Gagauzia autonomous region are on the brink of upset due to the large underfunding.

Seychelles: Election observers meet President Michel Nation SC (2011)

This article talks of the Common Wealth observation delegation lead by Dr Julian Hunte. The delegation payed a courtesy call to the president to introduce him to the group and inform him of there mandate. The team had also met Electoral Commission, media and Laison unit of NGO's.

Zambia: ECZ shuts results web page, warns Media, Lusaka Times (2011)

It is reported that the website carrying the 2011 presidential, parliamentary and local government election results had been tampered with. The Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson, Justice Irene Mambilima has also cautioned the media not to publish unverified results. She informed that this is an offense and breach of the Electoral Code of Conduct.

Malawi President to Take Over Comesa Leadership, All Africa (2011)

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) summit is expected to take place next monthMalawi President, Bingu wa Mutharika is also expected to be elected the new chairperson. He has early this year handed over the African Union chairmanship.

Zimbabwe: ZANU PF pushing for second GNU, SW Africa News (2011)

It is reported that the ruling ZANU PF is pushing for a second ‘unity’ agreement. This is to try and have a longer political life line. The current coalition government is in its last days and the the original Global Political Agreement (GPA) has not been fully implement.

Belarus: Election commissions formed in Russia for Belarus’ parliamentary elections, Belarusian Telegraph Agency (2012)

Election Commissions are formed in all four polling stations in Russian Federation for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Belarus for citizens residing in Russia.

Officials Verify Signatures for Bulgaria Belene Referendum, Balkan Insight (2012)

Bulgarian officials started to verify signatures on the petition calling for a referendum on the abandonment of construction of the Belene nuclear plant.

México: Mexican Elections Winner Prepares Transition Team, Prensa Latina (2012)

The winner of Sunday''s elections, Enrique Peña Nieto, candidate for the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), is preparing his transition team today prior to make up his future government.

Mexico: Mexico: major recount underway after fraud claims, The Telegraph (2012)

Mexican electoral authorities are recounting more than half the ballot boxes used in the weekend's presidential election after finding inconsistencies in the vote tallies.

México: Final Mexican results confirming Pena Nieto win, Chicago Tribune (2012)

Mexican opposition candidate Enrique Pena Nieto maintained his lead in a final count from Sunday's presidential election, confirming initial results published the night of the vote.