Responsibility for Boundary Delimitation
It is common in many countries, especially those which follow the Commonwealth tradition, for the electoral legal framework to create a separate body or commission to assume responsibility for boundary delimitation. Such countries include Australia, Botswana, Canada, and India. Countries where the EMB takes responsibility for boundary delimitation include Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Georgia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Uganda, and Yemen. There are countries such as the United States in which the electoral law assigns boundary delimitation to the legislature. However, this practice can easily lead to the imposition of electoral district boundaries that are favourable to the current majority party in the legislature, thus institutionalizing a hold on power.
There are operational and cost-effectiveness advantages in the EMB taking responsibility for electoral district boundary delimitation. Boundary delimitation is, however, a politically divisive issue, and leaves an EMB open to attack by those who perceive their interests are not served by its results. Some electoral analysts therefore argue that boundary delimitation is best handled by a body other than the EMB, to shield it from potential politically motivated attacks that may damage the EMB’s credibility.
Existing Commitments for Democratic Elections in OSCE Participating States, a Progress Report
Boundary Delimitation
