The quality of election administration, especially in emerging or newly-restored democracies, significantly determines the credibility of electoral processes. Unless all stakeholders, such as the political parties, observers, and the general public, are convinced that the election management body (EMB) is properly protected from the political control and influence of the governing party and that its actions are motivated by impartiality and professionalism, they will question its decisions or even the legitimacy of election results. This could lead to disillusionment with the EMB and public distrust, which in turn could engender violence and political instability.

Unfortunately, the issues of how election administration is structured, where, when, and why, have not been the subject of widespread rigorous research in the fields of political science or public administration. Where attention has been given, it has concentrated on the legal issues of electoral systems or the allocation of seats, the socio-cultural issues of election campaigns, the mechanics of voter registration, voting and vote-counting, and the use of technology in elections.

While the concept of universal suffrage is relatively new, election management is an essential part of any democratic process and has existed in some manner for more than twenty-five hundred years. Someone was responsible for counting the hands and reporting the results in the Athenian assemblies. Throughout the centuries, whilst great importance has been placed on the outcome of elections because of the ability of the result to legitimise government activity, election management has received little attention, few staff, and only scarce resources at best.

An election or direct democracy poll is often one of the largest single activities that is ever organized in a country. It is a very complex administrative task, implemented in a politically charged atmosphere. Still, the organisation and administration of multiparty democratic elections did not traditionally attract a high profile or become newsworthy. The administration of many electoral events largely passed unnoticed, except by those directly affected, even though the losing political parties often challenged the election conduct and results. From about 1989 onwards, this began to change. The conduct of democratic elections started to be seen, and reported, as a central element of transitions from authoritarianism or resolution of past conflict. It became more closely scrutinized by political parties, by the media, and by election observers, both from high-profile international missions and increasingly by domestic civil society organisations.

Elections and election management have, along with other public services, developed more in the last twenty-five years than in the preceding two hundred and fifty years. The pace of change has gone hand in hand with increased automation, the re-emergence of democratic governments in many Latin American countries in the 1980s, the collapse of the Berlin Wall, and the break up of the Soviet Union. These events led to an awakening of the international community's interest in democratic elections and to its rapid and at times deep involvement in providing electoral assistance. Beginning with the United Nations' engagement in the management and shadowing of South Africa's arrangements for elections in Namibia in 1989 as part of the decolonisation, then in Cambodia (1994), East Timor (2001), Afghanistan (2004), and Iraq (2005), numerous bilateral assistance agencies, international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and others have become active participants in the electoral assistance field.

Public interest has occasionally focused on reforming electoral systems to enhance representation, but during the past two decades, there has been a commitment to electoral administration reforms around the world, driven by political and electoral administration circles and by the critical gaze of the media and observers. Of equal importance have been reforms to the machinery for organizing and administering electoral events. These include the establishment in many countries of autonomous electoral management bodies with wide ranging powers and responsibilities, and the improvement of electoral organisation so as to deliver higher-quality electoral services more effectively while concurrently enhancing the freeness and fairness of electoral events.

As the administration of elections has received more scrutiny, so too has it become more professional. Electoral managers have learnt from experience – their own, and that of non-electoral organisations – and have formed links and networks through which ideas and practices are shared and electoral standards may be raised. There are different organisational approaches to the design and conduct of elections, but there are many common themes and issues faced by all electoral administrators.

Improvements in the quality of election management can be highlighted by considering the ways in which elections were managed before 1990. There now exist examples of well-managed elections that recognise the need for a professional, service-oriented approach to the electoral process. The commitment to improving election management is also shown by increased international cooperation through EMB networks all over the world. These bodies aim at promoting EMB cooperation and professional development, and they have developed training, examination, and accreditation programs for people working in the field.

Trends in election management include the emergence of permanent independent EMBs as the preferred form of EMBs in virtually all countries that have undertaken electoral reform over the last few years, and the new millennium has seen the adoption of regional and global standards for democratic elections by many countries, including fledgling and transitional democracies. Many countries, especially in Africa, have endorsed peer review mechanisms to demonstrate their commitment to democracy, rule of law, and good governance, and electoral democracy forms a key pillar of this commitment.

Election management was once an area that received little attention either locally, nationally, or internationally. That view has changed and will continue to change as the importance of democracy continues to be demonstrated.

Next: Guiding principles of electoral management