Political parties are key stakeholders whose concerns and interests the EMB needs to take on board when designing and implementing its policies and activities. Unless the EMB enjoys a good relationship with political parties, its policies and programs may attract opposition and criticism that could make it difficult for the EMB to enjoy widespread stakeholder support. Where political party nominees are appointed as full members of an EMB, such as in Georgia, or as non-voting members, such as in Mexico, there is a permanent structure for EMB dialogue with political parties.

It is in the interests of an EMB both to maintain an open-door policy to political parties and candidates and to treat all political parties and candidates equally – no matter whether in power or not, or in the legislature or not - with respect, impartiality, and fairness. Political parties and candidates are much more likely to have confidence in an EMB that treats them in this manner, and that seriously considers their opinion and suggestions. Regular meetings with political parties – at least one per month and perhaps more frequently during an election period – can provide a framework for this mutual communication.

A common expression in Southern Africa is that an EMB should not ‘comrade’ the ruling party and ‘puppet’ the opposition. The principle of fairness and equality means that the EMB should not give ‘the best’ to the ruling party and the ‘leftovers’ to the minority parties: for example, giving the ruling parties original copies of the voters register and the opposition parties photocopies; or delivering materials to the ruling parties while requiring opposition parties to find out about and collect the materials themselves. The EMB’s self interest, as well as its principles, is relevant: today’s opposition may well be tomorrow’s ruling party.

When the EMB consults political parties on any significant issue, it is important that all political parties believe that they are being treated equally, and offered the same opportunities and information by the EMB. All political parties need to be similarly consulted. Meetings to which not all political parties are invited can induce in those not present fears that favourable deals may have been struck between the EMB and a particular political party or parties. Minutes of the EMBs meetings with political parties need to be circulated to all political parties – whether present or not - at the same time and through the same method. It is also preferable that an EMB meet all the political parties at the same time to discuss EMB decisions or policies, not separately.

As well as regular EMB/political party meetings, the EMB may be able to improve its relationships with political parties by very carefully including their representatives in EMB sponsored events. Examples of potential joint activities are familiarisation visits to voter registration facilities, participation in voter education workshops, media interviews - including appeals for citizens to register and vote, or the EMB sponsoring public debates between candidates. Such public relations may assist cooperation between the EMB and political parties and candidates, and enhance stakeholder ownership of the key election projects.

While the EMB can improve cooperation with political parties and candidates by including them in EMB sponsored events, the EMB should be extremely careful to extend exactly equal opportunity for participation to all political parties and candidates, or it will be justifiably accused of favouring particular political interests. This will have a negative impact on the EMB’s stakeholder relationships.

It is important that political parties be involved in consultations about setting the EMB's strategic objectives and in evaluations of its performance. As a key EMB customer, political parties’ and candidates’ opinions on the EMB’s focus, priorities, and service provided are a useful ingredient in improving electoral management. During election periods, regular consultation with political parties and candidates can promote agreement on the EMB’s timetables, processes, and outputs. After each election, it is useful for the EMB to include political parties in general consultations with stakeholders on how to improve the electoral framework, to consider in any proposals the EMB may make for electoral reform. For example, the Botswana EMB always convenes post-election evaluation workshops which are attended by political parties and civil society.

Executives from major political parties can bring a different perspective to these consultations than their representatives in the legislature. Non-parliamentary parties, including newly registered parties and those which failed to win seats in the previous election, need also to be included in these consultations. In managing this consultative process, the EMB needs to be very careful that it is not, and is not seen to be, under the influence of any political party or groups of parties.