ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Bahrain Parliamentary elections results confirmed, Bahrain News Agency (2010)

This news is on the Higher Committee to oversee the integrity of elections in the Kingdom of Bahrain which announced the results of the Parliamentary elections following the second round of voting in nine constituencies.

USA: Variety of proposals on ballots in 37 states, CNN (2010)

This article reports on the number of proposals on the ballots in many state of the United States. In California, voters rejected the legalization of marijuana. Furthermore, Voters in South Dakota and Arizona cast their ballots on a proposal to legalize medical marijuana, and in Colorado voters will probably reject an anti-abortion amendment. In Arizona and Oklahoma voters passed a measure allowing residents to opt out of President Barack Obama's federal health care reform and its requirement that people have insurance.

USA: Five things to watch on Election Day, CNN (2010)

This article discusses the most important issues to keep in mind on Election Day in the US. Many experts believe that if Republicans will win a strong majority both in the House and in the Senate, they will try to try to roll back portions of the health care reform and expand tax cuts.

Jordan: Candidate numbers fall to 763 in final tally, Jordan Times (2010)

This news is about 763 candidates who will run for the 120 seats of the Lower House of Parliament in next Tuesday’s elections after 87 withdrew, according to the final list of candidates issued on Monday 1 Nov.

Tea Party movement scores key wins in US elections, VOA News (2010)

This article reports on the electoral success of the Tea Party in the US midterm elections. The conservative Tea Party movement's candidates won important races for the Republican Party in Kentucky, Florida and Indiana. The movement is well-known for its young and politically unexperienced representatives: in Kentucky, for example, eye-doctor and first-time candidate Rand Paul defeated attorney general Jack Conway in the race for the Senate.

USA: Elections conducted with few incidents, The Washington Times (2010)

This article reports on the Election Day in the United States. There were scattered claims of voter fraud and voter suppression in several states, but the elections were generally carried out without incidents. In South Carolina, Tea Party supporters harassed people at a polling place at a historically black university, and in California and Kansas voters received prerecorded calls telling them to vote Wednesday rather than Tuesday.

Ayad Allawi ready to quit power-sharing talks and lead Iraq opposition, The Guardian (2010)

This article is on Ayad Allawi, who won the most votes in Iraq's general election eight months ago, has for the first time indicated he will take his bloc into opposition and walk away from western-backed efforts to form a power-sharing government that would free the country from a crippling political crisis.

Nigerian election officials train ahead of January's voter registration, VOA News (2010)

This article reports on the start of the 12-day training program for electoral officials in Nigeria ahead of the January nationwide voter registration exercise. TheIndependent National Electoral Commission organized this training for its senior staff to explain how to train other staff about how to conduct the voter registration exercise. The elections have been recently postponed to April, and the new government is expected to take office in May.

Nigeria: 87 ways to end rigging, Vanguard (2010)

This article discusses the different possible measures to guarantee electoral integrity in Nigeria. The Independent National Electoral Commission identified 87 ways to rig an elections and planned its strategy accordingly. The author argues that most of the concerns for the upcoming elections involve the voter registration activities (the INEC is training the staff but the actual machines are still not in place). Furthermore, according to the author, the INEC is not paying enough attention to the activities of parties: top party officials, for example, are already shutting out opponents.

Northern Mariana Islands: Rival complaints as CNMI campaign heats up, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the elections in the Northern Mariana Islands. Independent candidate and incumbent delegate, Gregorio Kilili Sablan and Jesus Borja, have separately filed complaints with the Northern Marianas Election Commission. The complaints were about some ads published in the country's newspapers and alleged irregularities in the early voting process.

Huge numbers failed to register for Tonga election, says woman advocate, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the statements of a Tongan women’s activist regarding the voter registration in the country. According to Ofa ki-Levuka Guttenbeil Likiliki of the Women’s and Children’s Crisis Centre, many eligible voters will not be able to vote because the electoral authorities have not been clear on the registration modalities. The new electoral regulations required a new registration for all citizens in Tonga.

Nauru state of emergency lifted after Stephen re-election, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the lifting of the state of emergency in Nauru as a consequence of the re-election of president Marcus Stephen. Elections in the country were held in April and in June, but they did not solve the political impasse in the parliament. Today, however, former president Ludwig Scotty was nominated Speaker and the government has finally the majority needed to govern.

Northern Mariana Islands: Election officials prepared for today’s election in CNMI, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on Election Day in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Election Commission stated that preparations are complete for the congressional elections: 16.000 voters have been registered. Four candidates are running for the congressional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tonga election supervisor satisfied with registration numbers, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the statement of the supervisor of elections in Tonga, Pita Vuki. The supervisor stated that most people are registered for the elections (42.000 people). For the first time there has been a comprehensive registration process in the country.

Ballot boxes head to American Samoa’s islands for tomorrow’s election, Radio New Zealand International (2010)

This article reports on the preparations for the November 2 general elections in American Samoa. The Chief Election Officer Soliai Tuipine stated that everything is ready for the poll. Voters will be able to cast their ballots in 44 polling stations throughout the country, which will be open for 12 hours (unlike in the past).

OSCE Presence supports participation of Albanian women in politics (OSCE, 2010)

Women active in local government, political parties and civil society gathered in Bajram Curri, northern Albania to discuss ways of enhancing their participation in the political and public life, in a forum organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania.

EU, OSCE project launches campaign to promote use of new address system by Albanian citizens (OSCE, 2010)

A public awareness campaign to promote the use of Albania's new standardized address system was launched today, in framework of the project "Modernisation of Administrative Address and Civil Registration Systems", funded with EUR 2.5 million by the EU, and additional funds by the OSCE and US government and implemented by OSCE.

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Montenegro: Regional Conference on Good Governance, Ethics and Transparency at Local Level (OSCE, 2010)

Recommendations on strengthening the quality of local governance

Montenegro: 10th Cetinje Parliamentary Forum (OSCE, 2010)

Joint statement of the participants of 10th Cetinje Parliamentary forum "Women, Peace and Security - ten years anniversary from the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325"