The term ‘transitional EMB’ refers to those EMBs which are set up temporarily to facilitate transitional elections. Transitional international EMBs are normally set up under the auspices of the international community, for example through the United Nations (UN), and consist of or include international experts as members. Countries where transitional international EMBs have been set up include Cambodia (1993), Bosnia and Herzegovina (1996) and East Timor (2000).

While not strictly ‘international’ EMBs, the EMBs in Afghanistan (2004) and South Africa (1994) were national institutions with provision for the appointment of international members. The 1994 South African EMB consisted of five international experts, but since 1996 South Africa has had a national EMB following the Independent Model.

An advantage of transitional international EMBs is that they benefit from the presence of international election experts who have vast technical knowledge and comparative electoral experience. This type of EMB structure is useful in deep-rooted conflict situations where there is a need for consensus building through mediation and dialogue. The presence of international experts on the EMB may bolster domestic and international stakeholder confidence in supporting the electoral process.

Transitional EMBs may also consist of nationals only, often mainly political party representatives: an example was the 53-member EMB of Indonesia in 1999. This EMB was larger than usual in order to ensure representation and inclusiveness. In 2001, Indonesia amended its electoral law to provide for an 11-member expert-based EMB.