Post-election reviews are a tool being used increasingly by EMBs to assess the adequacy or otherwise of the legal and management structures for elections, and of their performance in delivering acceptable elections. These reviews are complementary to the financial and performance audits. Countries which provide for the submission of performance reports after every major electoral event include Botswana and Georgia. The Botswana EMB engaged a team of electoral experts to conduct a review of its performance during the country’s 2004 general elections. This review produced several key recommendations with far-reaching implications, including requirements for constitutional and legal amendment.

A post-election review report analyses what worked well, what did not, and why. It may cover every aspect of the electoral system, processes, and management structures and capabilities, and is better if based on the analysts’ direct experiences of the electoral event, not just examination of records. Polling and vote-counting activities, voters’ attitudes, and the response of stakeholders to EMB actions can be matters for detailed examination in a post-election review. A post-electoral event review could also address how the EMB’s funding processes help or hinder EMB sustainability. The review report can examine the strengths and weaknesses of the EMB and the electoral framework, and make suitable remedial recommendations. Results of the review need to feed in to electoral reform discussions and EMB procedural development throughout the electoral cycle.

The twin approach of needs assessment studies prior to a general election and a post-election review of EMB performance during an election period can assist in identifying the level of sustainability of free and fair elections that can be achieved over the longer term.