Taiwan: Legislators call for vote day change and for polling stations to stay open longer | Taipei Times

With the presidential and legislative elections just eight months away, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators are pushing for legal amendments that would allow the elections to be held on a Sunday rather than a Saturday, and for polling stations to stay open later because of the anticipated high voter turnout.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has traditionally set polling day on the second or the fourth Saturday of the month in which an election was held, with voting taking place from 8am until 4pm.

Nigeria: Forensic Tests Will Expose The Fraud In 2011 Nigeria Polls | Sahara Reporters

These were the welcoming remarks by Professor Itse Sagay when Sunday Trust visited his office in Lagos for this interview: “I have every reason to be worried. Since I made a remark criticizing the last elections especially in the South East and South-south as not being credible, I have not rested.

I have received calls from people in power asking why I made such remarks. Nigeria is not the safest country in the world and that was why when I saw your huge group, I began to be worried if you are truly a media team.” In this explosive interview, the Delta state born legal luminary who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), though expressed fears for his life but stuck to his guns that elections in the two regions were essentially rigged by what he described as ‘unintelligent riggers’  and ‘barbarians’ who were bent on pleasing President Jonathan with block votes.

Malta: Air Malta offers reduced fares for those wanting to vote | Malta Independent online

Just like for the 2008 general election and the 2009 European Parliament election, travel arrangements have been made for eligible voters living abroad to enable them to vote in Malta in the forthcoming divorce referendum on 28 May.

Bookings opened as from noon yesterday and Air Malta will be making available return tickets, at a charge of €35, inclusive of taxes and other charges, to persons whose name appears in the electoral register published last October.

New Jersey: New Jersey mail-in ballot bill should be shoo-in | The Asbury Park Press

A few years ago, New Jersey began allowing anyone who wanted to vote in elections using a mail-in absentee ballot to do so. It was a good idea that caught on with aging voters who have trouble getting out and with time-strapped voters who simply find it easier to vote at their leisure than to go to a polling place on Election Day.

Now, legislation passed by both the state Senate and Assembly will make it that much easier for people who vote by mail to ensure they continue to receive mail-in ballots, if Gov. Chris Christie signs it into law, as he should.

China: Special teams on ground in China to ensure fair elections | People’s Daily Online

The Party’s top member-managing and discipline-inspecting departments have jointly sent supervisory teams to 14 provinces and autonomous regions to ensure there is no misconduct during the local leadership reshuffles as officials at various levels finish their five-year terms.

The teams, comprising officials from the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Central Commission of Discipline Inspection, will supervise, examine and instruct those involved in local elections and leadership reshuffles in the provinces and autonomous regions of Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jiangsu, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Henan, Hunan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Tibet and Xinjiang, according to a statement by the Organization Department on Sunday.

Editorials: Teh Tarik: Majority vote | The Star Online

Following the rationale of one man, one vote, should not the outcome of an election reflect the true will of the people? Is it really fair? In Singapore’s elections last week, the People’s Action Party won 81 out of 87 seats even though only about 60% of voters chose it. Yes, the island republic officially has “democracy”, but the other 40% could be wondering if their views will count for much at all.

Democracy and elections are imperfect creatures which have slowly evolved over time.

Australia: Hanson election challenge begins in court | ABC Newcastle NSW

The New South Wales Electoral Commission has been ordered by a Sydney court to hand over all the information it has about the alleged sabotage of votes for Pauline Hanson.

The One Nation founder has lodged a petition in the Court of Disputed Returns after her failed bid to win a seat in the state's Legislative Council at the March election.