ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Rwandan president leads in preliminary election count, The Washington Post (2010)

This article discusses the preliminary results for the Rwandan presidential elections. Current President, Paul Kagame, appears to have won an overwhelming majority (93%). Before the polls closed, Rwandan Patriotic Front's supporters were celebrating.

Australia: Tony Abbott stands by election costings, The Australian (2010)

This article discusses the costs of the Australian electoral campaign for the upcoming elections. The two main opponents (the conservative coalition and the Labor Party) are accusing each other of over-spending, and consequently of mis-managing public money. Tony Abbot, leader of the coalition, promised to deliver a surplus much larger than the Labor (without revealing the figure).

New Zealand: MMP changes should come before 2014 election: poll, NZ Herald (2010)

This article reports on an opinion poll regarding the upcoming electoral reform in New Zealand. Voters will go to the polls next year to decide whether or not to change the Mixed Member Proportional system (MMP). If this reform will pass, the majority of the people interviewed believe that it would be appropriate to have the new system implemented by the 2014 elections.

Kyrgyzstan set October 10 date for parliamentary vote, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the decision to hold election on October 10. These elections would create the first parliamentary democracy in Central Asia. On the June 27 referendum, most of the voters supported the constitutional reforms to become a parliamentary democracy proposed by acting President Roza Otunbayeva.

Guinea run-off on September 19, Aljazeera (2010)

This article discusses the decision of the Guinea authority to hold run-off presidential elections on September 19. The elections will break 50 years of dictatorship: Cellou Dalein Diallo, an ex-prime minister, will compete against opposition leader Alpha Conde.

Yemen political parties start dialogue over reforms, Yemen Observer (2010)

Yemeni political parties started Saturday their first meeting for national dialogue over political and electoral reforms before the coming parliamentary elections scheduled in April 2011.

Jordan Islamist boycott 'damages election credibility', BBC (2010)

Despite being Jordan as the only country in the Middle East to allow the Muslim Brotherhood to play an official role in national politics; the Islamic Action Front, the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm in Jordan announced their boycott to the upcoming parliamentary polls, saying the government cannot ensure a fair election.

Italy: Berlusconi's ally Umberto Bossi says country should hold early elections, Bloomberg (2010)

This article discusses the Italian Minister Umberto Bossi's statement about the necessity to hold early elections. Mr Bossi is Berlusconi's key ally. According to the Italian Constitution, only President Giorgio Napolitano can decide whether to call early elections or to form a transitional government. Berlusconi's term ends in 2013.

Lack of women elected in Solomons disappointing, Pacific Scoop (2010)

This article discusses the lack of women successfully elected in the Solomon Islands' Parliament. 25 women competed unsuccessfully, out of 509 candidates,. Chair of the New Zealand Parliamentarians’ group on Population and Development, Dr. Jackie Blue, believes that this happened because of culture attitudes and lack of financial resources.

Nigeria: INEC and voters' registration, The Nigerian Tribune (2010)

This article reports on the Independent National Commission's voter registration costs and procedures in Nigeria. The Chairmen of INEC requested 72 billion naira in order to have a new, more reliable voter register.

USA: Fear new machines will confuse voters, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This article discusses the implementation of the new electronic voting machines in the United States. Local and state board of elections have launched voters' education campaigns and programmes, but experts believe that this is not enough. Voters will be given paper ballots, asked to mark the chosen candidates with an oval mark, and then feed the ballots into a scanner (the system cannot respond to "over-voting" - when there are more than one mark in the ballot).

Anxiety rises as final cut of Haiti candidates nears, Miami Herald (2010)

This article reports on the work of Haiti's Provision Electoral Council for the upcoming elections. This week CEP will start reviewing the documents and applications of the presidential candidates, releasing the final list on August 7. Wyclef Jean, popular Haiti-born singer, turned in the documents as well, even though he does not meet the seven constitutional requirements.

Canada: Party Financing: Yes, end the public subsidy, but raise the individual limit, The Globe and Mail (2010)

This article presents a commentary on the latest developments in the party financing law. The Conservatives have included in campaign platforms a promise to end public subsidies (after recent scandals), but experts believe that it just an empty promise.

Grenade strikes Rwanda's capital two days after election, The New York Times (2010)

This article reports on the grenade attack against Rwanda's capital, Kigali, two days after the elections, when the final results have been released. Three people had been arrested so far. The executive secretary of Rwanda's National Electoral Commission declared that this election has been the most peaceful in the country's history: 98% of the registered voters cast their ballot without any incident.

Rwanda's Kagame wins poll, grenade wounds 7, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the release of the final results for the August 9 presidential elections in Rwanda. President Paul Kagame was re-elected with 93% of the votes. The elections were carried out peacefully and efficiently, but on August 11 grenades were thrown in the streets of Kigali. Experts believe that the attacks were aimed at producing a political chaos.

Man dead in Solomon Is election violence, The Sydney Morning Herald (2010)

This article reports on the lasted incidents following the elections in Solomon Islands. The Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) reported on the killing of a man during the riots that broke out during the elections. In the last elections in 2006, violence broke out as well and the country was on the verge of a civil war.

Half of Solomons' MPs lose their seats, The Australian (2010)

This article discusses the results of the elections in the Solomon Islands. Half of all members of the Parliament lost their seats, and now the power balance has been changed. Political parties are currently holding coalition talks. All of the 25 female candidates failed to gain a seat: the Parliament will have to women representation.

Solomons party vows to stick to its principles in negotiations, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the negotiations to form a coalition government in the Solomon Islands. The new Independent Democratic Party declared to have the numbers to form a government with the Party for Rural Advancement, but it will take a little time to have the official coalitions.

Solomons' police say Honiara death not election related, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the investigation on the death of a man in Honiara. The Solomon Islands Police believe that this event is not related to the elections, as the press thought in the beginning. The Australia-led Regional Assistance Mission confirmed it shot the man, but the causes of death are still being investigated.

USA: Congressional election fail to stir voters, Reuters (2010)

This article comments the electoral campaign for the upcoming midterm elections in the United States. Apparently, neither the Republic candidates nor the Democratic ones seem to be catching the voters attention. Most voters see little differences between the two parties.