ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

UK:Labour contenders: Ed Balls, BBC News (2010)

This article discusses the political history of Labour leadership candidate, Ed Balls as well as some the challenges he will face in the leadership race. There is also a brief summary of how the vote to elect a new leader will work.

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UK:Michael Moore backs David Mundell during expenses probe, BBC News (2010)

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has given his support to David Mundell during the election expenses investigation. Mundell has been accused misreporting election costs.

UK:Labour hopeful’s sights are set on Scotland, The Herald Scotland (2010)

Labour leadership candidate David Miliband emphasized the importance of the upcoming Scottish parliamentary elections in revitalizing Labour. Miliband claims that Holyrood is the place for Labour to begin its fightback.

UK:'Lessons learned' after Bristol 2010 election blunders, BBC News (2010)

An independent study commissioned by the Bristol City Council offered recommendations to avoid the problems that occurred during the last general election, but indicated that the overall integrity of the vote was unaffected.

UK: Electoral reform 'would boost Tory seats', The Independent (2010)

According to research under the proposed election reform the Conservative party would gain seats in an election. The research indicated that the Tories would win more seats under the Alternative Vote System than they would under the current First Past The Post System.

UK:Electoral Commission to review Zac Goldsmith's election spending, The Guardian (2010)

The Electoral Commission has launched a case review of Zac Goldsmith's campaign spending. The case review will determine if there was any breach of law.

UK:Wording on alternative vote referendum revealed, The Telegraph (2010)

The exact wording of the question on the ballot in the May 5 referendum on electoral reform has been revealed. The bill on electoral reform will also reduce the number of MPs and reshape the constituencies.

UK:Voting reform question for May referendum unveiled, The Guardian (2010)

The question that will appear on the ballot in the May 5 referendum on electoral referendum was revealed. Shadow justice secretary Jack Straw criticized the brevity of the period for voicing concerns and plans to reduce the current number of MPs by fifty.

UK:Crunch time as Lib Dems and Tories count electoral cost of coalition, The Guardian (2010)

Dropping poll numbers for the Liberal Democrats may put their coalition with the Conservatives in jeopardy long before the 2015 general election. The Lib Dems could be potentially hurt at the next election due to their association with the Tories.

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UK:Election court to sit in Oldham over Phil Woolas result, BBC News (2010)

A high court judge has ruled that an Election Court will be convened in September to determine if campaign materials distributed during the general election deliberately mislead voters and influenced the vote.

UK:Election expenses: five more MPs face questions, Channel 4 (2010)

Five MPs from the three main political parties are all facing questions regarding their expenses reporting. Strict limits are place on campaign spending in the UK and violation of the regulations could lead to an MP being barred by parliament.

UK:Miliband: Scots shown ‘extraordinary disrespect’ by Clegg,The Herald Scotland (2010)

Shadow foreign minister and Labour leader candidate David Milliband said the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was "disrespectful" in scheduling the electoral referendum on the same day as Scottish parliamentary elections without consultation.

UK:NI voters 'happy' with election, BBC News (2010)

A report published by the Electoral Commission that overall voters in Northern Ireland were the most satisfied with the conduct of polling in the general election, while those in England were the least satisfied. The report made recommendations to improve future elections including changing the law to allow voters who queue before 10pm to cast their vote after the 10pm poll closing time.

UK:1,200 people left unable to vote by poor planning at polling stations, The Telegraph (2010)

The Electoral Commission indicated that though the election process was generally well run in most districts that the government should make reforms to avoid problems that left 1200 people unable to vote and restore confidence in the process, among these is requiring photo identification to vote.

UK:Same-day referendum and election ‘would be difficult’, The Herald Scotland (2010)

Election officials have warned that holding the referendum on electoral reform and Scottish parliamentary elections on the same day would be difficult. Some voters could be forced to travel to two different polling stations to cast their ballots as Westminster and Holyrood constituencies are drawn along different lines.

UK:Bad times may bring good news for Labour and Plaid, says academic, Wales Online (2010)

Negative sentiment toward the governing coalition could improve outcomes for the Labour Party and Plaid Cymru in the Welsh Assembly election scheduled for next year. The article also discusses some of the candidates and the seats they will be competing for in the election.

UK:Tory MPs sign motion protesting at voting referendum date, The Guardian (2010)

More than forty Conservative MPs have demonstrated their opposition to the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's proposed referendum on electoral reform by signing a petition protesting the vote. The Tory's also want the referendum date moved as it currently clashes with other elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

UK:Funding of Northern Ireland political parties in spotlight, The Belfast Telegraph (2010)

A twelve week public consultation on whether political parties in Northern Ireland should declare donated funds has been launched. Unlike in Britain NI parties are exempt from declaring donations, but the exemption expires March.