to move up and down
Egyptian voters crowd polls for ‘first real election in 30 years’
Egyptians voted on Monday in their first election since a popular revolt ousted Hosni Mubarak, amid fears the generals who replaced the deposed leader would try to cling on to power.
In the nine months since the end of Mubarak’s 30-year rule, political change in Egypt has faltered, with the military apparently more focused on preserving its power and privilege than on fostering any democratic transformation.
Frustration erupted last week into violent protests that cost 42 lives and forced the army council to promise civilian rule by July.
“Aren’t the army officers the ones who protected us during the revolution? What do those slumdogs in Tahrir want?” one woman asked loudly at a polling station in Cairo’s Nasr City.
“Those in Tahrir are young men and women who are the reason why a 61-year-old man like me voted in a parliamentary election for the first time in his life today,” one man replied politely. (Photo: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images)
Saudi women given right to vote, run for office. Is driving next?
Saudi King Abdullah on Sunday granted women the right to vote and run in municipal elections, in a historic first for the ultra-conservative country where women are subjected to many restrictions.
“Starting with the next term, women will have the right to run in municipal elections and to choose candidates, according to Islamic principles,” he said in speech to the Shura Council carried live on state television.
“Muslim women in our Islamic history have demonstrated positions that expressed correct opinions and advice,” he told advisors.
Women’s rights activists have long fought to gain the right to vote in the Gulf kingdom, which applies a strict version of Sunni Islam and bans women from driving or travelling without the consent of a male guardian. (Fahad Shadeed/Reuters)
Calgary based clowns Saucy McCuddle (Fif Fernandes) and her husband Chuddie McFuddle (Hamish Boyd) dressed up to cast their votes in the federal election on May 2, 2011 at the Glendale Community Hall. The pair wanted to make a statement about their disappointment with unfulfilled promises by politicians to end child poverty. (Colleen De Neve/Calgary Herald)
Live Now: Election 2011 pre-game show
Join the National Post team for our live coverage as results come in for the 2011 Federal Election. Until 10:00 p.m. ET we’ll preview the key ridings and candidates you’ll want to watch. Polls close across the country at 10:00 p.m. ET and we’ll have all the breaking results and instant analysis.
Graphic: Who votes, who doesn’t
Turnout at Canadian elections hit an all-time low in 200S, falling below 60% for the first time since Confederation. The dramatic decline in turnout started in the late 1980s, and has sharply accelerated since then. It’s a phenomenon not felt just in Canada, but in most Western democracies.
Canada chooses between the peacock and the despot
Rex Murphy: Has a campaign ever meant so little?
Tories use stimulus cash as political weapon on campaign trail
NDP cranks up spending promises to 11
GeoPollster Canada: Join our election game
National Post enables voting via Foursqaure
Nerd Mobile Mayors across the country spread out to check-in for their party and colonize commercial and non-commercial establishments so as to colour the map and win not only the game, but possibly the nation. Silly, but somewhat neat if enough people actually choose to play. An accurate poll needs a sample of what, a thousand? What does a Foursquare election require? How many ridings will dominated by a couple of mayors, or none at all?
Check in and let’s find out - it’s an experiment on our part. And just like voting, your political preference remains anonymous unless you choose to reveal it.
