Observers say the vote, accompanied by a renewed crackdown on dissent, is meant to entrench the junta's power.

A coup set off a brutal civil war and made a poor country poorer. Now its military rulers are seeking a veneer of legitimacy by holding elections.

An emphatic election victory for Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti marks a resurgence for the nationalist leader, ending a political deadlock in Europe's youngest state and potentially determining its domestic and international agenda for years.

Critics charge that the election is designed to add a facade of legitimacy to military rule. Final results are expected to be announced in late January.

Kosovo will vote in an election aimed at breaking months of political stalemate that left the economy in limbo and stymied efforts to improve ties with allies and resolve tension with the Serbian minority.

Some members of the Lehigh County Democratic Party are sounding the alarm about the nomination process to fill Rep. Josh Siegel's seat.

Stocks are often influenced by election cycles, as new politicians often bring new policies that affect how large public companies do business. History shows that the three major U.S. stock-market indexes tend to perform best during pre-election years,