The Clacton parliamentary by-election, prompted by Nigel Farage's resignation, features the UK's longest-ever 90cm ballot paper with 34 candidates, costing Tendring District Council four times more to print than standard ballots.
Massachusetts may become the first state to repeal its recreational marijuana law after activists secured enough petition signatures for a potential November referendum, despite industry pushback and mixed public opinion.
Massachusetts may become the first state to repeal recreational marijuana legalization, which voters approved in 2016. Anti-cannabis activists claim enough signatures for a November referendum, while the marijuana industry, citing tax revenue, is campaigning against the repeal.
Police and prosecutors will question National Election Commission (NEC) officials regarding ballot paper shortages during the June 3 local elections. The NEC faced criticism after voting was temporarily suspended at 26 polling stations. Investigators seized NEC servers and plan to question officials, including the former chief, about undue influence and response to the shortages. Protests demanding a re-run of the elections continue.
A joint team of police and prosecutors will question National Election Commission (NEC) officials regarding ballot paper shortages during the June 3 local elections. The NEC faced criticism after voting was temporarily suspended at 26 polling stations due to the shortages. Investigators are examining whether NEC officials exerted undue influence or mishandled the situation.
South Korea's June 3 local elections faced an unprecedented crisis due to insufficient ballot paper, forcing extended voting hours and leading to protests. The issue, concentrated in traditional strongholds of the opposition People Power Party, has fueled suspicions of electoral irregularities and calls for a re-election, drawing parallels to Hong Kong's protest tactics.
Police have raided the National Election Commission and local election committees eight days after a ballot paper shortage occurred, investigating potential violations of election law and dereliction of duty.
South Korea's Central Election Commission reduced the minimum ballot paper printing standard from 60% to 50% of voters without an official meeting, leading to ballot shortages in the recent local elections. This decision, made via internal approvals, has drawn criticism and calls for legislative action to prevent future infringements on voting rights.
Seoul's June 3 local elections were marred by a ballot shortage at 14 polling stations, undermining citizens' right to vote and public confidence in democratic institutions. The National Election Commission blamed high turnout, but critics argue this was foreseeable and inexcusable in a mature democracy.
A constitutional complaint has been filed alleging that the shortage of ballot papers during the June 3rd local elections violated fundamental rights. Lawyer Do Tae-woo, who represented former President Yoon Suk-yeol in impeachment proceedings, also announced plans for a constitutional complaint and injunction to prevent the disposal of ballots.
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is investigating top election commission officials, including Chairman Noh Tae-ak, for alleged dereliction of duty related to a ballot paper shortage in the recent local elections. A conservative civic group filed the complaint.
South Korea's main opposition PPP is demanding a parliamentary investigation into a ballot paper shortage that disrupted local elections, causing public outrage and temporary voting suspensions. The ruling DP criticized the PPP for dropping its revote calls after favorable results.
South Korea's National Election Commission will investigate ballot paper shortages and delays in vote counting caused by protests. Protesters are blocking the transfer of ballot boxes from a polling station in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa-gu, demanding a recount.
Seoul's local election vote count is delayed at one polling station due to ballot paper shortages. Protesters are blocking ballot boxes, demanding a re-election, with some citing Taiwan's no-advance-voting system as a model.
South Korea's local elections faced controversy as 14 polling stations in Seoul ran out of ballots, delaying voting and sparking demands to halt vote counting. The opposition party called the election 'polluted' and demanded a rerun, while the ruling party apologized for the oversight but argued against stopping the count.
South Korea's local elections faced controversy as several polling stations in Seoul, particularly in Songpa District, ran out of ballot papers. The Central Election Management Committee apologized for the disruption and extended voting hours, citing unexpected voter turnout as the cause for the shortage at 14 locations.
South Korea's National Election Commission apologized for a ballot paper shortage that suspended voting at some Seoul polling stations during local elections. The NEC is investigating the cause and implementing measures to prevent recurrence.
The Central Election Commission has apologized for a ballot paper shortage at some polling stations during the June 3 local elections, causing confusion and inconvenience to voters. The commission stated it has dispatched additional ballots and allowed voters to cast their ballots even after the closing time.
South Korea's June 3 local elections were marred by numerous incidents, including ballot paper shortages, voter disturbances, assaults on election officials, and suspicions of fraud. Police responded to 399 emergency calls nationwide.
Over 10 polling stations, primarily in Seoul's Songpa district, experienced ballot paper shortages on election day, leading to temporary halts in voting. The National Election Commission cited higher-than-expected turnout as the cause, but accountability issues are expected to arise.
Exclusive: Where parties fielded multiple candidates in last week’s vote, those at top of list were more likely to be pickedFancy your chances in politics? Then perhaps you should change your name to Aaron Aaronson or Aaliyah Aardvark, figures from last week’s local elections in England suggest.A Guardian analysis of election results compiled by the website Democracy Club points to a striking alphabet effect. In wards where a party fielded three candidates, those listed nearer the top of the ballot paper – with a surname nearer the start of the alphabet – finished ahead of their party colleagues in 2,200 cases, or 65% of the time. Continue reading...
Research by 50:50 Parliament and Democracy Club reveals women make up only about one-third of candidates across UK local, mayoral and devolved elections on 7 May. In local elections in England, 34% of candidates are female, while mayoral contests have just 18% women. No party has achieved gender parity, with Labour closest at 42%. The 20 most common candidate first names are all male except Sarah at number 20, with 516 Davids compared to just 137 Sarahs. Campaigners warn women's views on issues from social care to bin collections will be sidelined.
James Sherwin-Smith has secured the 250 nominations needed to stand as a candidate for Nationwide's board at July's annual meeting, potentially becoming the first customer voted onto the board in nearly 25 years. His candidacy highlights a democracy deficit at the mutual, which faced criticism for not polling members on the £2.9bn Virgin Money acquisition in 2024 and for only offering advisory votes on executive pay up to £7m. The article argues Nationwide should suspend its 'quick vote' system that favours board recommendations and allow Sherwin-Smith a fair run, despite likely prevailing either way.
