Cameroon

On 5 December 2001, the National Assembly passed a law creating an election monitoring body known as the National Elections Observatory (known by its French acronym as ONEL). Lawmakers from the ruling Cameroon's People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) and their allies of the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) voted in favour while five opposition parties walked out of Parliament, claiming that this body, as proposed in the law, would not be sufficiently independent and impartial given that its members are to be appointed single-handedly by the President of the Republic, himself the leader of a political party.

Comoros

On 23 December 2001, voters in a constitutional referendum on granting greater autonomy to each of the nation's three islands overwhelmingly approved a new Constitution. About three-quarters of the Indian Ocean archipelago's 224,000 registered voters cast ballots and 77 percent of them supported this new Constitution. It seeks to end secessionist sentiment and bring political stability by giving the individual islands greater control over their own affairs and turning the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros in a new federation, the Union of the Comoros. A new government of national unity, which was put in place in January 2002, will oversee the transition to general elections scheduled for April 2002.

Czech Republic

On 13 December 2001, the Chamber of Deputies, approved an amendment to the country's electoral law, clearing the way for parliamentary voting in June 2002. One month later, on 17 January 2002, the Senate passed the same bill which came into force a week later, when President Vaclav Havel ratified it. The new amendment provides for 14 election districts and designates Friday and Saturday as election days instead of Sunday.

Dominican Republic

On 19 December 2001, the Chamber of Deputies committee that studied the bill on constitutional reform recommended its adoption as received from the Senate. The bill would allow changes in the 1994 Constitution to allow the re-election of President Hipolito Mejia in 2004. The bill would reduce the percentage needed to win a presidential election in the first round and enable legislators to extend their terms two more years. On 23 December 2001, the bill was passed by the Congress of the Republic. Nevertheless, on 4 January 2002, the Supreme Court of Justice annulled the law, asserting that the law violates procedures established in the constitution.

Eeast Timor

On 31 January 2002, the Constituent Assembly voted to turn itself into the country's first legislature. During its first term of office, the Parliament shall comprise 88 members on an exceptional basis. Section 151 (Transformation of the Constituent Assembly) was passed with 65 in favour, 16 against and 2 abstentions after a nominal vote in which each member had to declare his position. The United Nations transitional administration in East Timor (UNTAET) has supported the plan, stating that electoral officers had warned that legislative elections would have been impossible to organise ahead of independence on 20 May 2002. Nevertheless, opponents of the move continue to call for legislative elections.

Lesotho

On 9 January 2002, a new electoral law paving the way for general elections later in 2002 came into force. The National Assembly Election Act of 2001 was approved by the Interim Political Authority, established after controversial elections in 1998 to supervise fresh elections. The new Act introduces a "mixed member" system under which 80 MPs are to be elected under a first-past-the-post constituency-based system, with another 40 members to be elected on the basis of proportional representation. According to the bill, proportional representation seats will be allocated to parties by dividing the total votes by 120 or any number of constituencies that successfully contested elections. Officials say the new system will ensure a more equitable distribution of National Assembly seats in line with the authority's recommendations. It will also give smaller parties in Lesotho a say in national affairs. On the other hand, Lesotho's NGOs find the two ballot papers needed for the mixed member system to be confusing.

Malaysia

On 16 January 2002, the cabinet approved extensive changes to the election laws that would be taken to Parliament in March 2002. The changes include granting a right of appeal for election petitions and raising the deposits for candidates running for a parliamentary seat to 10,000 ringgit ($2,631) from 5,000 ringgit.

On 24 January 2002, the country's largest opposition party dropped a ban preventing women from running for elections. The Pan-Malaysian Islamic party's ruling body decided to allow women to run as party candidates for the next elections if they get permission from their husbands. New national elections must be held in 2004, but are widely expected to take place in 2003.

Papua New Guinea

In July 2001, the Government issued the Provisional On 12 December 2001, the Prime Minister, Sir Mekere Morauta, announced that the National Executive Council had endorsed a recommendation to increase nomination fee for election candidates. The increases were recommended after investigations by the Constitutional Development Commission. The national election nomination fee has been raised from K1000 to K5000 (from about $500 to almost $2,500) to discourage an excessive number of persons contesting seats. In the Commission's view, the increasing number of candidates has caused confusion among voters, hampered effective administration, and added to the cost of the election process. The nomination fee will be refundable to successful candidates who have registered with a political party.

Republic of Congo

Voters went to the polls on 20 January 2002 in a constitutional referendum. According to government figures, 84.26% of voters in the referendum favoured the draft Constitution while only 11.29% voted against it. The official turnout was just under 78% of 1.6 million eligible voters despite calls by a dozen opposition parties for a boycott. The main provisions of the new Constitution are as follows:

• Direct election of a president to a seven-year term, renewable only once, who shall wield executive power;
• Introduction of several requirements for presidential candidates: Congolese nationality, between 40-70 years of age, and permanent residency in Congo for a period of 24 months leading up to registration;
• Introduction of a bicameral parliament with a National Assembly and Senate.