· June, 2008

Stories about Elections from June, 2008

Georgia: Post-Election Survey

Social Science in the Caucasus comments on a telephone survey of voters following the May parliamentary election in the country. The blog casts doubts on the reliability of the poll and the effectiveness of telephone surveys in general.

Brazil: Judges can't tell YouTube from U2

  12 June 2008

The Brazilian Superior Electoral Court held yesterday a session to conclude the resolution regulating the use of the Internet in the 2008 local elections campaign later this year. According to Judge George Marmelstein, who watched the session in person, "Youtube was turned into U2" by the ill-informed judges in charge.

Bermuda: Good Governance

  12 June 2008

“It’s shocking to know that, not only are major decisions being made in Cabinet without public consultation or debate, but some Ministers are even defying the agreed decisions of Cabinet!”: Vexed Bermoothes is concerned about proper governance in Bermuda.

Armenia: Geopolitics, Opposition Protests & War

The Armenaker Kamilion comments on the opinion of a senior radical opposition leader in Armenia that renewed fighting with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh might be one way for the authorities in Yerevan to declare martial law and end opposition protests which are set to start again on 20 June. The...

Jamaica: Steering into the Future

  11 June 2008

“Where is the leadership, where is the firm hand on the rudder, where are the good government promises?”: Jamaica and the World is not happy with the course the country seems to be taking.

Bolivia: Protests in Front of Election Officials’ Home

  11 June 2008

Kevin Ayllón of Travieso [es] writes about the protests taking place in front of his house. Kevin's mother is an election official in the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia and is in charge of registering voters, of which the registries had been filled due to high demand

Georgia: Football Overshadows Politics

TOL Georgia voices its concern with plans to suspend a political talk show to make time for coverage of Euro 2008. The blog considers the move as part of continuing attempts by the Georgian authorities to limit opposition access to the broadcast media.

Caucasus: BarCamp

After attending the Caucasus BarCamp at the weekend, Pigh [Ru] expresses his concern with the involvement of Soros in financing part of the event as well as the presence of several people who the blogger considers “colored revolutionary” types. The blogger also expresses his disappointment with the non-political nature of...

Zimbabwe: Election violence continues

  10 June 2008

Election violence continues in Zimbabwe: “Whilst Mugabe fiddles about food in Rome, Zimbabwe is burning. With three weeks till the run off, the election violence continues. The images from a petrol bomb attack in Zaka support with the reports we received below, from an MDC supporter in Masvingo Province.”

Jamaica: Continuing Crime

  10 June 2008

“Simply being aware and trying to keep myself safe currently feels like a great deal of work”: Transition Sunshine wonders why crime continues to escalate in Jamaica and links to Part 1 of a video series that may help explain the phenomenon.

Kenyan bloggers on Kenya's most famous son, Barack Obama

  10 June 2008

Kenya's most famous son! Great day for Kenya! Duel of the century! These were some of the headlines that Kenyan newspapers ran a day after Barrack Obama clinched the Democratic Party nomination. The electronic media also kicked into a frenzy, asking Kenyans to predict whether Obama will win. The Kenyan blogosphere also went on with the debate.

Trinidad & Tobago: Wave of Change?

  9 June 2008

Trinidadian blogger Attillah Springer believes in Barack Obama's wave of change: “This is one wave I want to arrive at our shores and wash away the apathy and the lack of political substance. Yes we can too. We too can change our politics.”

Brazil: Taking the piss of election regulations

  6 June 2008

Rodrigo Alvares [pt] publishes an amusing picture of a banner in support of Ivan, The Terrible for São Paulo's council. Note the mention of Orkut, YouTube and other social media tools. With heavy sarcasm, because of the latest developments of elections regulations that saw bloggers having to delete banners, the...

Puerto Rico, U.S.A.: Black & White

  6 June 2008

Gil the Jenius thinks that Puerto Rico stands to learn a lesson or two from the accomplishments of Barack Obama: “Of course there's racism in Puerto Rico. Of course it affects politics. But if you pretend it isn't happening, that it simply doesn't exist, then of course We're going to...

Kenya: President who rode in a crowded bus

  6 June 2008

Kumekucha writes about Barack Obama and Kenya: “I will not pretend to even understand the Obama phenomenon. I leave that to more informed writers than myself. But for this post, I want to talk about just a few of the Kenyan things that tickle me most about an Obama presidency....

Armenia: Pro-Government Looters

Unzipped comments on the prosecution of three people arrested for looting in the post-election 1 March clash between opposition supporters and the authorities. Ironically, the blog notes, the men claim to be supporters of the new president and not the main opposition challenger, and says that there are always people...