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Table of Contents

Electoral Management

Electoral Management

Overview of Electoral Management

Guiding Principles of Electoral Management

Context of Electoral Management

Structuring of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs)

Structuring of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs)

What is an electoral management body (EMB)?

Independent Model EMBs

Independent Model EMBs

What an Independent Model EMB Is, May Be, and Is Not

Governmental Model EMBs

Governmental Model EMBs

What a Governmental Model EMB Is, May Be, and Is Not

Mixed Model EMBs

Mixed Model EMBs

Examples of Formats for a Mixed Model EMB

What Can Be Expected of the Different EMB Models?

Factors that influence EMB behaviour

Permanent and Temporary EMBs

Centralised or Decentralised EMBs

EMBs in Federal Countries

Transitional International EMBs and National EMBs

Representation of the EMB to Cabinet and the Legislature

Summary: Structuring of Electoral Management Bodies

The Legal Framework: The Context for the EMB’s Role and Powers

The Legal Framework: The Context for the EMB’s Role and Powers

International Treaties and Agreements

International Treaties and Agreements

The Constitution

Electoral Laws: Acts and Ordinances

Electoral Laws: Acts and Ordinances

Checklist for Electoral Management Legal Framework

EMB Rules, Regulations and Proclamations

Summary: The Legal Framework

How Legal Instruments Define Electoral Processes

How Legal Instruments Define Electoral Processes

The Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of an EMB

The Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of an EMB

EMB Powers and Functions

Extent of Powers and Functions

Extent of Powers and Functions

Responsibility for Voter Registration

Responsibility for the Registration and Funding of Political Parties

Election Campaign Responsibilities

Voter Education Responsibilities

Validation of Election Results

Supervision of Political Party Candidate Selections

Responsibility for Boundary Delimitation

Electoral Observation Responsibilities

International Activities

Community Responsibilities of EMBs

Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest

Gender Balance Responsibilities

Account of Ethnicity Issues

Equality and Equity

Broadly-based Access

Direct Democracy Instruments

Functional Divisions between Electoral Institutions

Summary:The Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of an EMB

EMB Composition and Roles

EMB Composition and Roles

EMB Membership

EMB Membership

Status of EMB Members

The EMB Chair: A Special Role?

EMB Members: Respected Experts or Watchdogs on Each Other?

EMB Members: Respected Experts or Watchdogs on Each Other?

Multiparty-based EMBs

Expert-based EMBs

EMBs with Both Expert and Multiparty Membership

Advantages and Disadvantages of Multiparty, Expert, and Combined EMBs

Full-time or Part-time EMB Members?

How Many EMB Members?

Term of Office of Members of Permanent EMBs

Recruitment and Appointment of EMB Members

Recruitment and Appointment of EMB Members

Recruitment through Open Advertisement

Nomination of Candidates for EMB Membership by the Head of State and Confirmation by or in Consultation with the Legislature

Unilateral Appointments of EMB Members by One Branch of Government

Involvement of Other Actors in EMB Appointment

Qualifications for Appointment

Conditions of Service and Security of Tenure for EMB Members

Conditions of Service and Security of Tenure for EMB Members

Oath/pledge-taking or Affirmation

EMB Decision-Making Processes

EMB Decision-Making Processes

Meetings of EMB Members

Meetings of EMB Members

Closed or Open EMB Meetings

EMB Member Committees

EMB Members Relationships With The EMB Secretariat

EMB Members Relationships With The EMB Secretariat

Internal Regulations

Summary: EMB Composition and Roles

Planning and Implementing EMB Activities

Planning and Implementing EMB Activities

The EMB Secretariat

The EMB Secretariat

The EMB Secretariat and the Public Service

The EMB Secretariat and the Public Service

Possible Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Public Servants as EMB Secretariat Staff

Possible Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Public Servants as EMB Secretariat Staff

Structuring the Secretariat

Developing an EMB organisational structure

Developing an EMB organisational structure

Alternative Functional Divisions

Organisational Structure Charts

The Election Calendar – A Planning Assistant

EMB Internal Rule Making

EMB Internal Rule Making

Codes of Conduct for EMB Members and Staff

Strategic Planning

Operational Planning

Operational Planning

Operational Concept

EMB Budget

Staffing of EMBs

Procurement by the Election Management Body (EMB)

Communications and Public Relations

Communications and Public Relations

The Media

Records Management

Report Writing

Summary: Planning and Implementing EMB Activities

EMB Staffing and Development of Professional Electoral Management

EMB Staffing and Development of Professional Electoral Management

Staffing of EMBs

Staffing of EMBs

Use of Public Service Staff for EMB Secretariats

Permanent and Temporary Staff

Conditions of Employment: EMB-Specific or Public Service Staff

Staff Pensions

Procedures for Recruitment of EMB Staff

Procedures for Recruitment of EMB Staff

Appointment of EMB Secretariat Staff

Appointment of EMB Secretariat Staff

Procedures for the Appointment for EMB Secretariat Staff

Staff Appointment Formalities

What Is a Professional Electoral Administrator?

Staff Training and Development

Staff Training and Development

EMB Organisational and Staff Development for Permanent Staff

Identifying Training Requirements

Internal Training of EMB Staff

Internal Training of EMB Staff

Written Materials

Practical Exercises

Oral/visual Training

External Training of EMB Staff

External Training of EMB Staff

Information Exchange

Training Courses and Events

Education and Development Courses for EMB Staff

External Election Advisers, Consultants and Trainers

Using International Experience

Mentoring

Secondment of Staff

Handbooks and Specialist Publications

Factors Which May Inhibit EMB Professionalism

Summary: EMB Staffing and Development of Professional Electoral Management

Financial Management of EMBs

Financial Management of EMBs

Common EMB Financing Issues

What Electoral Costs Need to be Financed?

What Electoral Costs Need to be Financed?

Attributes and Examples of Electoral Core, Diffuse and Integrity Costs

Who Finances EMBs and How?

Who Finances EMBs and How?

Method of Disbursing State Funding

Approval of EMB Budget Proposals

Integrated or Distributed Electoral Budgets

Donor Funding

Donor Funding

Some Key Advantages and Disadvantages of International Donor Funding for Electoral Processes

Other Sources of EMB Funding

Budget Formulation Methods for EMBs

Budget Formulation Methods for EMBs

The Process for Budget Formulation and Approval

Availability of Budget Funds

Control of EMB Funding

EMB Financial Control Measures

Asset Management

Principles for EMB Financial Management

Audit and Evaluation

Summary: Financial Management of EMBs

EMB Stakeholder Relationships

EMB Stakeholder Relationships

Who are the Stakeholders and What Is Their Role In the Electoral Process?

Political Parties and Candidates as EMB Stakeholders

The EMB’s Staff

Executive Branch of Government

The Legislature – An EMB Stakeholder

Electoral Dispute Resolution Bodies

The Judicial System

Election Monitors and Observers

The Media – An EMB Stakeholder

The Electorate As an EMB Stakeholder

Civil Society Organisations as EMB Stakeholders

Donor Community – A Key Stakeholder

Secondary EMB Stakeholders

Managing Relationships With Stakeholders

Principles of Stakeholder Management

How To Deal With Difficult Stakeholders

Summary: EMB Stakeholder Relationships

Assessing EMB Performance

Assessing EMB Performance

Principles and Best Practices for EMB Accountability

Stakeholder Accountability

Performance and Financial Accountability

Performance and Financial Accountability

Internal Performance Accountability

External Performance Accountability

Internal Financial Accountability

External Financial Accountability

Auditing EMBs

Auditing EMBs

Performance Audits

Performance Audits

Methodology and Scope of a Performance Audit

Election Performance Audits: Potential Criteria and Specific Issues

Performance Audit Outputs

Financial Audits

Internal Quality Controls

Programme Evaluation by EMBs

Post-election Reviews

Post-election Reviews

EMB’s Post-Election Review Cycle Checklist: Responsibility and Action

Peer Reviews

External Oversight Issues

Accountability for the Use of Technology-based Systems

Summary: Assessing EMB Performance

The Sustainability of EMBs

The Sustainability of EMBs

What is sustainability?

What is sustainability?

Why is EMB sustainability important?

Needs assessment

Electoral sustainability and donor support

Practices favouring sustainability

Staffing for Sustainability

Electoral Materials

Structural and Technological Implications of Sustainability

Automated Voting and Counting Processes

Summary: The Sustainability of EMBs

Cooperation through EMB Networks

Cooperation through EMB Networks

What Are Electoral Networks and Why Do they Matter?

National Electoral Networks

Regional EMB Networks

Global Electoral Networks

Electoral Support Networks

Summary: Cooperation through EMB Networks

Reforming Electoral Processes

Reforming Electoral Processes

What Is Electoral Reform?

Failing EMBs

The EMB’s Role in Electoral Reforms

The Scope of Electoral Reform

Managing Electoral Change

Summary: Reforming Electoral Processes

Administration électorale

Electoral Management Case Studies

Afghanistan: An Electoral Management Body Evolves

Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Success Story for the Independent Model

Cambodia: Tensions Around the National Election Committee

Canada: Stability, Independence and Public Trust

Costa Rica: A Powerful Constitutional Body

Fiji: A New System Under Pressure

Republic of Georgia: A Commission in Tranistion

India: The Embodiment of EMB Independence

Iraq: International Institution Design

Japan: Mixed Model Electoral Management for a Mixed Parallel Electoral System

Kenya: Compromised Independence of the EMB

Lesotho: Building a Reputation

Mozambique: A Need for Depoliticization

Nigeria: A Need for Modernization

Senegal: Independence Strengthened in a Mixed Model of Electoral Management

Spain: Mixed Model Electoral Management Becomes Well Established

Sweden: Governmental in Form, Independent in Practice: A Decentralized Election Management System

The United Kingdom: Electoral Modernization

The United States: Decentralized to the Point of Being Dysfunctional

Uruguay: The Electoral Court - A Fourth Branch of Government?

Yemen: An Emerging Independent EMB

Vanuatu: Limitations to the Independence of the EMB

Zimbabwe: A New Era in Election Management

Contributors to Electoral Management

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