ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Forum observers monitoring Nauru snap election again, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

Observers from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat are monitoring the general election in Nauru on 24 April.

Nicaraguan Election Tribunal Stands For Now: Ortega, The New York Times (2010)

"Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega issued a decree on Saturday that could extend the terms of electoral officials supporting his controversial bid for re-election in 2011, a move the opposition says oversteps his powers."

Chinchilla Holds Lead Over Guevara in Costa Rica, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

"Laura Chinchilla is a comfortable frontrunner ahead of Costa Rica’s presidential election, according to a poll by Borge & Asociados published in Diario Extra. 36.7 per cent of respondents would vote for the candidate of the ruling Liberal National Party (PLN) in next month’s ballot."

Money for May 16 elections “has to appear," Electoral chief says, Dominican Today (2010)

"Castaños said the problem of funds to secure the congressional and municipal elections 'is an important stumbling block which must be surmounted'."

Philippines: Police will remain apolitical in 2010 polls—PNP chief, INQUIRER.net (2010).

This article discusses the Philippines National Police who vowed to remain apolitical in the May 2010 general elections.

Philippines: 558 spots under election watch, The Philippine Star (2010).

This article notes 558 cities and municipalities watched by Philippine National Police (PNP) for election-related violence.

Myanmar: Election to be Held in October? The Irrawaddy (2010).

This article notes a report from Japanese Newspaper The Asahi Shimbun that Myanmar election which will likely be held on October 10, 2010.

Philippines: Half of poll machines ready, The Philippine Star (2010).

This article notes half of the 82,200 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines for the 2010 elections which has finished being manufactured.

Indonesia: Lack of funds, independent candidates mark elections, The Jakarta Post (2010).

This article notes the data and reports for financial problems of organizers for Regional elections in 17 regencies and municipalities in Central Java, Indonesia.

Thailand: By-election runs smoothly, Bangkok Post (2010).

This article deals with the 2010 by-election in Constituency 1 for House seat which had been left vacant by Kiatikorn Pakpiansil, which proceeded smoothly.

Namibia: ECN again blackballs NSHR after court order, The Namibian (2010)

ELECTION observers of the National Society for Human Rights had their accreditation as observers withdrawn for a second time by the Electoral Commission of Namibia on Saturday – only a day after the High Court had overturned a previous ECN decision to withdraw the NSHR’s poll observer status.

Madagascar: Madagascar Government to Begin Election Workshop, VOA (2010)

President Andry Rajoelina’s government has announced it will hold a two-day national workshop Wednesday in preparation for a scheduled March 20 general election.

USA: Courts roll back limits on election spending, The New York Times (2010)

As a Supreme Court ruling is expected to rule against core elements of the existing limits on campaign spending, some experts and political advocates say that the 2010 elections will be the first ones, in which there will be a large scale application of previous court rulings which have already altered the campaign restrictions, and the campaign finance system will be less regulated than any time since Watergate.

Uganda: Mbale by-election a litmus test for NRM, opposition ahead of 2011, Daily Monitor (2010)

A by-election scheduled for February 20 is taking place in the Mbale Municipality, which has been an opposition stronghold since 2006. While the two main opposition parties have already chosen their candidate, the ruling National Resistance Movement is yet to hold the primaries. The by-election is seen by many as a litmus test for the popularity of the ruling party ahead of the 2011 elections.

European welcome for election of Croatian president (The Irish Times, 2010)

CROATIA’S NEW president, Ivo Josipovic, has pledged to crack down on crime and corruption and lead his country into the European Union, after securing an easy election win over scandal-plagued Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic.

Honduras: Foreign Countries Will Attend Inauguration, Honduras News (2010)

"At least 19 countries will send delegations to the presidential handover, as a token of appreciation to the new government, said President Roberto Micheletti."

Guinea leader Alpha Conde to be sworn in tomorrow after contested election, Bloomberg (2010)

This article reports on the ceremony to inaugurate Alpha Conde as president of Guinea. Mr. Conde received 52% of the votes and was confirmed by the country's Supreme Court on December 3. The election represented Guinea's first democratic transfer of power since its independence in 1958.

Samoa ruling party announces over 100 election candidates, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the latest updates for the upcoming general elections in Samoa. The ruling HRPP party announced that it will be presenting 116 candidates: 80 of them will be running with the party, while 36 will run as independents. It will be the first general election in which this party has more than 100 candidates.

Nigeria: INEC releases election timetable, The Times of Nigeria (2010)

This article presents the election timetable that was released yesterday by the Independent Electoral Commission. The electoral campaign for the April general elections will start on the December 1st, while the voter registration is scheduled for January. According to the timetable, the national assembly elections will be held on April 1, the presidential elections will be on April 9 and the gubernatorial polls on April 15.

Hungary's ruling Fidesz extends big poll lead (Reuters, 2010)

Hungary's ruling Fidesz party extended its major lead in opinion polls in November, according to a survey by pollster Tarki published late on Wednesday.