Integrity is a difficult concept to define but an essential element of a democratic government system. Integrity is inherent to the principles of democracy. It contributes to the administration of free and fair elections, without which democracy would be compromised.

In this section, election integrity is defined as a set of standards based on democratic principles, measures and mechanisms for protecting free and fair elections.

An election is the outcome of a complex process requiring the participation of a multitude of players. There are winners and losers in every election. The stakes are high, and the temptation is great to ensure victory through illegal or morally questionable means. Election results can be rigged to predetermine who will win or lose. An election can be disrupted, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the process. An election without integrity subverts the purpose of a democratic election, and cannot be considered fair and equitable.

Given socio-political rivalries and the threat of electoral corruption, integrity cannot be taken for granted. Mechanisms for maintaining and implementing integrity need to be established within the very organizations that administer elections. These mechanisms must make it possible to monitor actions of the electoral administration; they must ensure oversight of the electoral process by other government sectors or agencies, civil society, and the media; and they must provide for enforcement of rules and regulations through administrative or legal means.

Good systems expose and combat electoral corruption, and ensure integrity. The priority of most electoral agencies is to create an electoral system that imposes checks and balances on the activities of election administrators. The legal framework sets out integrity protection mechanisms and defines the institutional structure supporting integrity. Under the legal framework, the authority of each branch and each position within the election administration can be delegated and limited to ensure that checks are in place and abuse of the system is prevented.

Oversight of the election process by political parties, the media, individual citizens, and national and international observers is another important mechanism for protecting integrity. As a checks-and-balances mechanism, oversight helps detect and prevent problems. It ensures that players in the election process are accountable, promotes transparency, establishes the credibility of the process, and guarantees compliance with the legal framework.

The enforcement of rules of integrity is particularly important; without effective enforcement, the best rules and regulations are merely good intentions. A legal framework and good procedures are essential in combatting corruption. It is necessary to establish enforcement mechanisms so that anyone breaching election legislation is stopped and prosecuted in a timely, professional and non-partisan manner. Effective law enforcement will help not only to maintain the integrity of the process but also to prevent future problems.

International promotion of the value of democratic elections has been very successful. Nonetheless, despite the numerous measures that today guarantee free and fair elections, there are still cases of electoral fraud and corruption. Election integrity has often been perceived as a concern only for countries making the transition to democracy, but voter registration practices in the United States on the eve of the 2000 presidential election and the mail in vote fraud in Great Britain in 2005 raised awareness about problems of election integrity even in well established democracies. [1] In theory, the integrity of each step of the election process can be threatened; in practice, viable solutions exist and integrity can be maintained. To reduce the risk of fraudulent practices, it is essential for election policy makers and administrators to take into account the importance of election integrity when they develop a new system or make changes to an existing one. [2]

In short, election integrity requires:

• a set of standards based on generally accepted democratic principles;
• a legal framework that imposes checks-and-balances on the institutional structure;
• firmly entrenched protection mechanisms, including oversight of the election by independent observers, civil society and free media;
• enforcement measures; and
• fair, transparent and equitable election administration.

NOTES

[1] Birch, Sarah, “Explaining Confidence in the Conduct of Elections,” paper presented at the Public Opinion and Political Parties Conference, University of Essex, U.K., Sept. 9-11, 2005.

[2] For an interesting discussion on the historical development and institutionalization of election integrity in Australia, see Hughes, Colin, “Institutionalising Electoral Integrity,” in Sawer, Marian, ed., Elections Full, Free and Fair, Sydney: The Federation Press, 2001, p. 142 57.