Elections

The pre-electoral delegation of PACE said it is satisfied with the improvements to Bulgaria's Election Law but noted the lack of trust in democracy is a cause for concern.

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The "Better Together" camp is leading on the "Yes Scotland" campaign, with partial results showing between 54 and 55 percent voted "No".

Results quoted by the Guardian suggest support for Scotland to remain part of the UK was at 1.397 m as of 05:15 BST (06:15 GMT), and those wanting the country to secede from Britain were 1.176 m.

Some 53 percent of voters in a referendum on whether Scotland should be an independent country have chosen to remain part of the United Kingdom, a survey shows.

The poll cited by the Guardian leaves the pro-independence option second with 47%.

Voters turned out even before polling stations opened in Edinburgh - many speaking of their delight at the massive democratic participation, with official predictions of an up to 80 percent turnout

Polling booths opened in Scotland's historic referendum on independence, with record numbers of Scots expected to cast their vote on whether to stay or leave the United Kingdom

Nearly 4.3 million registered voters in Scotland are to decide Thursday on whether the country should stay in the UK or become an independent nation.

Voters in the referendum are to answer "Yes" or "No" to the referendum question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

Thirty-five years ago, there were 40 democracies in the world. By the end of the 20th Century, that number had tripled. However, democracy has not triumphed everywhere, and emerging democracies face difficult dilemmas and obstacles.

There are 18,313,698 Romanian citizens eligible to vote in the first round of the presidential elections on Nov. 2, and 18,321,512 on Nov. 16 in the second round, according to the latest data released by the Standing Election Authority.

BELGRADE - The Serbian parliament will continue to cherish and strengthen the freedoms of thought and speech as the fundamental values of democratic society, Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic said in a congratulatory message to the citizens on occasion of the International Day of Democracy.

Thirty-five years ago, there were 40 democracies in the world. By the end of the 20th Century, that number had tripled. However, democracy has not triumphed everywhere, and emerging democracies face difficult dilemmas and obstacles.