Stories about Elections from September, 2012
United States: Spanish Stands Out in Political Conventions
In the race for the White House, the political conventions held at the end of August and beginning of September served as a showcase for the Republican and Democratic parties. This year, the conventions demonstrated the continuously growing importance of the Spanish language.
Russia: Forecasts for the Protest Movement's Elections
On October 20, the new "Central Elections Committee" will hold elections to select 45 individuals to form the first "Coordinating Council of the Russian Opposition." When this process is complete, the protest movement will have a representative body for the first time, providing a powerful institution that at last formalizes opposition leaders' legitimacy in Russian politics.
Russia: Protest Movement Struggles with Keeping Itself Democratic
Maksim Martsinkevich, who goes by the nickname Tesak (Machete), gained notoriety on the RuNet between 2005 and 2007. A white-supremacist who later spent several years in prison for inciting ethnic and religious hatred, Tesak has returned to public life and is now trying to gain access to the protest movement's internal elections.
Venezuela's 2012 Election Guide
AS/COA (Americas Society/Council of the Americas) has put together an election guide for Venezuela's upcoming presidential election on October 7, 2012. The guide includes a section on social media: During the 2012 election, social media will play an important role. Twitter has one of its largest user bases in Venezuela, where there are also...
Malaysia: Furor Over Alleged National Flag Redesign
Is it time to change the flag of Malaysia? The opposition is accused of proposing a flag redesign while the country is celebrating its Independence Day.
USA: Video the Vote Seeks Election Monitors
Video the Vote is recruiting volunteer videographers to help document voting irregularities on election day across the United States. On November 6, 2012 they will be monitoring voter protection telephone hotlines and dispatching cameras to record any complaints of long lines, list purges, voter intimidation, or malfunctioning equipment.
Russia: Top Opposition Blogger Investigated for Ethnic Extremism
According to documents published online, police in Volgograd are investigating one of blogger Aleksei Navalny's newest crowdsourcing projects, the "Good Machine of Truth," for possible ethnic extremism in its propaganda efforts against United Russia and Vladimir Putin.
Venezuela: Is a Natural Disaster Looming Over Mata Redonda?
Neighbors of the Mata Redonda community, in the Venezuelan city of Maracay, are using citizen media to denounce a possible natural disaster if the contention wall that separates the zone from Lake Valencia were to collapse.
Russia: U.S. Republican Convention in Context
Most delegates of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, United States, last week probably did not imagine that Russian netizens were commenting on the proceedings in real time. Indeed, Russian bloggers have developed strong opinions about the U.S. presidential contest.
Angola: Brazilian firm's electoral advice to ruling party leaked
Club-K leaked a study conducted by Brazilian firm SENSUS in July [Pt] which significantly informed the ruling party's electoral strategy. It warns Angolans are dissatisfied with inequality with young people using Facebook and mobile to organize, and of the charisma of Abel Chivukuvuku (CASA-CE). It also suggested the best margin for...
Angola: Voter Silence Also Speaks
There were no serious disruptions to polling in Angola's elections today, yet a number of problems with the voting were reported by citizens. Moreover it appears that voter turnout was much lower that the 2008 election.
Mexico: Court Rejects Challenge to Overturn Presidential Election
The Mexican Federal Electoral Tribunal has finally ruled that the Presidential election of 2012, in which Enrique Peña Nieto (PRI) was declared winner, won't be overturned. Various reactions (discontent and joy) invade social networks while protesters get ready to demonstrate.
