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South Sudan's Journey to Independence
On July 9, the Republic of South Sudan becomes the world’s newest nation. Independence from Sudan is the result of years of conflict, an internationally mediated peace agreement and a peaceful popular vote for separation. Although violence continues throughout Sudan, the January 2011 referendum on independence for South Sudan marks a triumph of the democratic process. More than 97 percent of registered southern Sudanese voters cast ballots to determine their nation’s future. This photo gallery depicts the milestones along South Sudan’s path to independence.
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
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
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
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Nigeria: Debating a New Voters Register Four Months before Election Day
Earlier this year, Nigeria held the world’s attention with the illness and subsequent death of President Umaru Yar'Adua. After his passing, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan assumed the presidency. In January 2011, the tenure of the current presidency will expire and Nigeria will hold presidential elections to elect the country’s next leader.
News & Updates
Feature
Kyrgyzstan Votes to Adopt a New Constitution
On Sunday, 27 June 2010 Kyrgyzstan held a referendum to consider adopting a new constitution. The referendum, administered by a new (interim) Central Election Commission (CEC), was held just 80 days after the violent overthrow of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and just weeks after a violent ethnic clash between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south of the country. With a near 70% turnout, voters overwhelmingly approved changes to the constitution affecting the electoral system, the separation of powers, the judicial system, human rights, and local self-government. With the changes Kyrgyzstan is set to become Central Asia’s first parliamentary republic, though the serious work of implementation lay ahead.
News & Updates
Feature
Election Day in Tbilisi, Georgia
Throughout the month of May, Georgia prepared for elections to choose representatives to local councils (sakrebulos) as well as the mayor of the capital city of Tbilisi. This represents the first time that voters would directly elect a mayor. IFES contributed to pre-election preparations through a number of initiatives, including sponsoring live television debates featuring the Tbilisi mayoral candidates; supporting local organizations to get out the vote, produce debates, and observe the election; facilitating a Memorandum of Understanding on the Abuse of Administrative Resources; producing voter education posters, leaflets, and T-shirts; and other activities. Election Day, May 30, 2010, was peaceful and orderly. The OSCE noted deficiencies in the electoral framework and the uneven playing field, but called these elections "evident progress" towards Georgia meeting its international commitments.
News & Updates
Feature
Burundians Vote in Communal Elections
On May 24, 2010, communal elections, the first in a series of polls that will take place in Burundi this summer, were held. This series of elections are the first to be implemented in Burundi since the rebels laid down their arms and ended years of civil war. The district elections are considered to be crucial for the consolidation of peace in the war-ravaged country. They are seen a barometer for the electoral period which will include presidential, legislative and local elections by September 2010.
News & Updates
Feature
Iraq OCV 2010 PSA: Required Documents to Prove Eligibility (Arabic)
This PSA is one in a series produced and paid for by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) to promote Out of Country Voting for Iraq's 2010 parliamentary elections. This PSA lists the required documents to prove eligibility for out of country voting.