News

China legislature weighs election reform proposal, Jurist (2010)

The Chinese National People's Congress opened considerations about election reforms, which should aim at equal representation to residents of rural and administrative areas. The current law provides more congressional representatives to residents of urban districts than those of the rural district areas. Discussions of the proposed measure will continue during the 3rd session of the 11th National People's Congress from March 5-14, 2010.

Electoral change in China on table of People's Congress, Asia News Network (2010)

China may boost representation for its vast rural population, a move expected to grant rural residents more say in deciding their own fate and the development of the country after a discussion on a draft amendment to the Electoral Law.

Buying votes in China village polls 'costing more', BBC News (2010)

This article reports on election frauds in the Southern Hainan province in China. Investigations have discovered that candidates and parties are used to bribe voters in grassroots elections. Prosecutors revealed that the 'costs' of these operations have increased dramatically: from $ 1.50 per person in the late 1980's, to today's $ 177. Candidates also used witches and fortune tellers to threaten voters with misfortune spells.

[···]

 

More Chinese officials selected through competitive elections, reflecting increased fairness, Xinhuanet (2010)

This article reports on the elections of three key Ministry of Public Security (MPS) department heads. According to the Chinese authorities, the three candidates have been selected among 311 others. 9 judges from four bodies of the public administration "elected" the officials. For the first time, officials were not appointed by superiors or elected in single-candidate elections. The new Reform of Official Selection (2010-2020) introduces competitive elections in the public administration.

[···]

 

China rejects "independent candidate" amid local legislature elections, Xin Hua (2011)

This article discusses remarks made by the head of China's "Commission for Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing Committee," which dealt with the possibility for independent candidates to run in Chinese elections. According to him, candidates of this type are not official because China does not allow independents to run.

Chinese activists harness Twitter to campaign in elections, The Telegraph (2011)

The article reports that: "More than 100 'independent' candidates including farmers, factory workers, university professors, students, journalist and writers have announced their intention to stand for election, rattling senior Party officials." The wave of candidacy announcements comes soon after a much talked about incident that saw a laid-off steel worker placed under house arrest after announcing independent candidacy.

China: Rebellious village Elects new leaders, VoA News (2012)

This news article is about villagers who rebelled against authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong went to the polls Saturday 3 March to elect a village council.