"Early data in the wake of the scandal show a deeper deterioration" for Mr. Berlusconi's party, Mr. Mannheimer said, adding that recent polling data show only one-third of Italian voters plan to back mainstream parties in the April vote.

WSJ: Scandals Rain on Berlusconi's Party

There is only one polling station in the capital, Nuuk - a town of 15, 000 with only two traffic lights.

BBC: Mining question dominates Greenland poll

Councillors seeking re-election were not the only ones whose performances were being scrutinised - polling took place on the same day auditions for talent show guru Simon Cowell's X Factor were being held in Inverness.

BBC: Independents dominate in Highlands and Islands

The bloc -- which was forecast to lose some ground but still win -- earned only 31 in this election, according to exit polling from the daily newspaper Haaretz, a sharp drop.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The fact that polling data showed that only 12 percent of Jewish Israelis regard Obama as pro-Israeli and that the overwhelming majority of the public with an opinion believes Netanyahu's visit was a success made absolutely no impression on the media.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Where Obama is leading Israel

The most blatant account of this was when in December Ron Paul was only give 87 seconds out of a 2-hour debate, despite polling in 2nd place at that point.

FORBES: Ron Paul Should Stroll In, Says Web Opinion. So Why Does The Web Get it Wrong?

At a comparable point ahead of the 2002 presidential election, in which he won 17% and a place in the run-off, he was scoring only 6%, according to Ipsos, a polling agency.

ECONOMIST: French politics

Only one venue seems to have been less popular than London's polling booths - and that was the hall in Church House that had been decked out to host the 'Yes' celebration party.

BBC: Is anybody out there?

But the campaign team for the agreed unionist candidate Nigel Lutton declined the invitation, explaining that with only a few days left until polling, Mr Lutton would concentrate his efforts on canvassing in Mid-Ulster.

BBC: Mid Ulster by-election: Two withdraw from TV debate