Libya: Early results of assembly elections announced | Middle East Online

Libya’s electoral commission Saturday announced the preliminary results from polls for an assembly to draw up a new constitution, although 13 of 60 seats remained vacant after unrest in several areas stopped voting. The election to choose the body to draft a new constitution had been billed as a milestone in the country’s transition from the 42-year dictatorship of Moamer Gathafi, but failed to spark enthusiasm among voters. Political parties were not officially represented at the vote, which was organised on February 20, and only individuals were allowed to present themselves as candidates. Early results suggested liberal candidates did well in the capital Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi, which has been a hotbed of Islamist unrest since Gathafi’s ouster in October 2011. But the electoral commission said voting had not taken place in 93 out of some 1,600 stations because of unrest and a boycott by minority groups in some areas.

Thailand: Voting in re-run elections peaceful as protesters regroup in central Bangkok | Australia Network News

Thailand has held elections in five provinces where voting was disrupted in last month’s poll by anti-government protesters trying to unseat Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. There were no reports of violence at Sunday’s vote, although gunfire and at least two explosions have raised tension in Bangkok before the Feb 2 polls. Election re-runs planned for April in other provinces have been suspended pending a court decision on procedures. Voting was disrupted in 18 per cent of constituencies, 69 out of 375 nationwide, the Election Commission said, affecting 18 of 77 provinces. The demonstrators, who have blocked intersections in the capital for weeks, say Prime Minister Yingluck must resign and make way for an appointed “people’s council” to overhaul a political system they say has been taken hostage by her billionaire brother and former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thailand: Polls close in general poll | BBC

Voting has ended in five provinces in Thailand that were unable to hold polls in last month’s general election because of anti-government protests. No disturbances were reported in Sunday’s ballot, but correspondents say voter turnout was only around 10%. Polls also stayed closed in many areas affected by February’s rallies, with the election commission saying the situation there remained too tense. Thailand has been in a political crisis since mass rallies began in November. Protesters are calling for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to resign, and want her government to be replaced by an unelected “people’s council” to reform the political system.

Ukraine: Election monitors will be under extreme pressure | The Independent

National elections in Ukraine are scheduled for 25 May. If these go ahead – and in the changing situation in Ukraine nothing is certain – they will be bitterly fought and there will be a significant risk of outside interference. All this applies in spades to Crimea, where a referendum is due around 30 March – brought forward yesterday from 25 May – to determine the status of the peninsula. Yesterday Russia’s lower house of parliament, the Duma, said it had agreed that legitimate, democratic elections in Ukraine were “now impossible”. The organisation for monitoring the quality of elections in Europe is the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – both Russia and Ukraine are members; the institution that deals with elections, human rights and democratisation is the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which is part of it.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly February 24 – March 2 2014

finance_260With Kentucky and Iowa  are among the states that are considering proposals to restore voting rights to ex-felons. Rick Hasen wrote about the possible impact of a Supreme Court ruling in McCutcheon v. FEC, which has been called “the next Citizens United.” Arizona Governor Jan Brewer sign a bill repealing a sweeping election law overhaul that Republicans passed in the final hours of the 2013, cancelling a voter referendum on the law. Cuyahoga County executive Ed FitzGerald has vowed to challenge two election bills signed into law last that would shorten the State’s early voting period and modify absentee ballot requirements. Both Oregon and British Columbia shelved plans for studying internet voting and the Australia-based Election Integrity Project released a report which compares the risks of flawed and failed elections, and how far countries around the world meet international standards.