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Nigerians Vote in Multiple National Elections
Nigeria held a series of nationwide elections in April 2011, beginning with National Assembly polls on April 9 and a presidential election on April 16. Elections for state governors were held on April 26 in most parts of the country but delayed until April 28 in two states due to violence following the presidential vote. After registering to vote in January and February, Nigerians underwent a voter accreditation process in the morning of each election day before casting their ballots in the afternoon. Despite the considerable security challenges, the polls were considered generally fair and credible by international observers.
News & Updates
Feature
Voter Education in Haiti
After a close and controversial first-round presidential vote in November, on March 20 Haiti held a runoff election for its top two presidential candidates, Mirlande Manigat and Michel Martelly. As part of its technical assistance to the CEP, and in close coordination and cooperation with other partners, IFES organized a public information campaign reminding voters to check their registration information, confirm the location of their polling station and cast their ballots on Election Day.
News & Updates
Feature
2011 IFES Photography Contest
IFES’ third-annual Photography Contest drew nearly 500 entries from professional and amateur photographers from around the world. The democracy-themed competition showcases the many ways individuals worldwide demonstrate a sense of civic responsibility and call to action. Featured here are the winners and finalists from the two competition categories. The Public Category is open to all photographers ages 18 and older, and the IFES’ Choice Category is open only to current IFES employees.
News & Updates
Press Release
IFES Names Winners, Finalists in 2011 Photography Contest
Twenty-two images of popular protests, elections, political campaigns and civic action have been named winners and finalists in the 2011 Photography Contest sponsored by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
News & Updates
Feature
IFES Observes Voter Registration in Nigeria
More than 65 million Nigerians registered to vote between January 15 and February 8 for the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in April. IFES conducted unofficial monitoring in the southern and northeastern regions of the country in order to give feedback on the registration process and results to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja. INEC experienced technical problems with the Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines used to register voters and faced serious challenges deploying machines and registration workers across the country. However, at the end of the period, many civil society groups gave the exercise positive marks and Nigerians remained enthusiastic for the upcoming polls.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Kazakhstan's April Election: Another Means to Make Nazarbayev President for Life
In January, Kazakhstan's Constitutional Court ruled against a bid backed by the country's parliament to bypass next year's presidential election and hold a referendum to extend President Nursultan Nazarbayev's term until 2020.
News & Updates
Feature
Southern Sudan: Referendum for Secession
Sunday, January 9 kicked off a week of voting in Southern Sudan on a referendum to determine whether it will secede from the north. The overall mood was jubilant as citizens fulfilled one of the points established during the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which was signed on January 9, 2005 between the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. The CPA expired on July 9, 2011. Final results from the referendum are expected to be released in late January and final results will be made public by February 14, 2011.
News & Updates
Feature
Southern Sudan Registers to Vote in the Referendum
An estimated 3.9 million Southern Sudanese registered in November and December 2010 to cast a ballot in the referendum occurring between January 9-15, 2011. The SSRC has established polling centers in the north and in eight countries (Australia, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the UK, and the USA) and the SSRB has established polling stations throughout Southern Sudan. As a key milestone of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the referendum will determine whether Sudan remains unified or if the ten states of Southern Sudan will secede. At least 60% of those registered to vote must cast a ballot for the results to be binding.
News & Updates
Feature
Ruling of the Palestinian High Court on Cancelling Elections in the Territories
On December 13, 2010, the Palestinian High Court issued its final verdict on the lawsuits challenging the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) of the Palestinian Authority decision to cancel the local elections scheduled for July 17, 2010. The Court ruled that once the cabinet calls for elections, it does not have authority to cancel them.
News & Updates
Press Release
Yemenis Are Open to Improving Status of Women, but Obstacles to Gender Equality Remain.
CAIRO (December 5, 2010)— The latest nationwide survey conducted by the Status of Women in the Middle East and North Africa (SWMENA) project finds that while majorities of both Yemeni women and men indicate support for introducing gender quotas in elected bodies and setting a minimum marriage age for girls, overall, different roadblocks remain on Yemeni’s path to achieving gender equality.