· August, 2009

Stories about Elections from August, 2009

Japan: Voting for Change

  31 August 2009

Diary of A Singaporean Mind comments on the Japanese election result that ended the LDP 54 years of continuous rule. The blogger pointed out that Japanese people had voted for change even though the future remains uncertain.

East Timor: “Happy Day” of freedom vote

  30 August 2009

Timorese bloggers have celebrated the 10th anniversary of the popular referendum which led to the territory's formal independence. One commemorates the "happy day", another recalls his determination to drive out the Indonesian military occupiers, and yet another uses the day to question the current moment in Timor.

Japan: I won`t vote

  26 August 2009

The general elections will be held on the 30th of August but many Japanese won`t vote. One of these, at takuyaonline, gives vent to his frustration [ja] against the rotten political class and the decadence of the Japanese society in a post titled I won`t go to vote (選挙には行かない) .

Barbados: Press Threats?

  24 August 2009

A senior political figure allegedly threatens a newspaper editor, prompting Barbados Free Press to comment: “Bajans know that our country has not enjoyed true freedom of the press in two decades or more.” Keltruth Corp. adds: “The Nation [newspaper] is getting all bent out of shape because somebody threatened to...

Uruguay: ITC Plan for Upcoming Election Cycle

  24 August 2009

For the upcoming election cycle in Uruguay, the Association for Information Technology of Public and Private Administration provided a space for political parties to put forth their Technology plan during a recent event writes Gabriel Budiño of D Todo 1 Poco [es].

Afghanistan: Televised Presidential Debates

  24 August 2009

Safrang reviews the Afghanistan's presidential TV debates, organized by the the national TV (RTA) and radio RFE/RL. For the first time in history, the incumbent president together with two contenders were publicly responding to the questions and each other's criticism.

Guyana: Leadership Issue

  21 August 2009

As Dr Van West-Charles decides to “withdraw from the PNC leadership race and support former Party Chairman Winston Murray”, Guyanese bloggers react. Guyana 360 calls the move “a display of political maturity”, while Imran Khan says: “If the PNC…does not realise that Murray…must be its leader at this time, then...

Afghanistan: Voting Day

  21 August 2009

Millions of Afghans defied Taliban threats and voted Thursday in the country’s second-ever presidential elections. Afghan bloggers share their experiences and feelings on this historic day.

Ukraine: In Chinese, Yanukovych is Yushchenko?

  21 August 2009

Evgeny Morozov of Foreign Policy's Net.Effect writes: “It turns out that when you use Google Translate to translate (from Chinese to Russian) the expression “Vote for Yanukovych” (Yanukovych was Kremlin's favorite candidate), Google gives you “Vote for Yushenko” in the translated version. Global conspiracy orchestrated by Google!”

Guyana: Curtains for PNC?

  20 August 2009

Guyanese blogger Imran Khan wonders whether the infighting over the PNC political party's leadership will signal “the complete and utter destruction of the party itself.”

Mauritania: A New Era?

  20 August 2009

Following a coup d'état a year ago, the election of the coup's leader, General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, to the presidency, and the country's first-ever suicide bombing in early August, Mauritania continues to experience massive changes.

Bolivia: Divided Opposition

  17 August 2009

In the upcoming December elections in Bolivia, Miguel Centrellas of Pronto* writes that the dozen opposition candidates will divide the vote when facing the incumbent President Evo Morales.

Philippines: Inspired by Cory

  16 August 2009

mojojho, a Filipino living in Bangkok, went to the Philippine embassy to register as an overseas absentee voter. She was inspired to register when she learned that democracy icon and former President Cory Aquino died two weeks ago.

Haiti: The U.N. & Elections

  14 August 2009

Dying in Haiti publishes an article by Bob Corbett which speculates as to “why the United Nations could keep so silent about the fraud during Haiti's April Senatorial elections and the June runoffs”, adding: “It's time to make some significant changes; now.”