A. INTRODUCTION
In view of the increasing demand for United Nations electoral assistance, in 1991 the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to designate a focal point to assist him in coordinating and considering requests for electoral assistance. Currently, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs serves as the Focal Point for Electoral Assistance Activities.

The United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) was established in April 1992 following General Assembly resolution 46/137 to assist the Focal Point in carrying out his functions. Major activities of EAD include: evaluating government requests for electoral assistance, conducting needs assessment missions, collaborating in the design of electoral assistance project activities with other UN system agencies and in developing the electoral components of peace-keeping operations. In addition, EAD provides logistical and advisory support to international observer groups; facilitates the co-ordination of assistance among donor countries and UN system agencies; maintains a roster of electoral experts; organizes conferences and training courses; assists in the administration of UN electoral trust funds; and serves as the Organizations' institutional memory in the electoral assistance field.

EAD maintains a small staff which is supplemented, as required, with short-term electoral experts to fulfill the particular needs of a requesting government. The Division works in close cooperation with other UN system agencies, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations to ensure that electoral assistance activities are complimentary and cost-effective. This has allowed EAD to remain efficient and flexible in responding to the high volume and diversity of requests received.

B. FORMS OF ASSISTANCE
There are two main categories of United Nations electoral assistance: (i) standard electoral assistance activities, and (ii) major electoral missions which are normally conducted within the context of comprehensive peace-keeping operations.

(i). Standard Electoral Assistance Activities
Since the establishment of the Electoral Assistance Division (then-Election Assistance Unit) in 1992, the United Nations has provided various forms of electoral assistance to over 70 Member States. Experience has demonstrated the importance of tailoring such assistance to meet the particular needs of the requesting State. Although considerable international attention has been given to the role of the United Nations in supporting the election components of peace-keeping operations, most electoral assistance provided by the Organization takes the form of relatively small-scale, technical assistance activities that do not require a specific mandate from the General Assembly or the Security Council.

Based on a request from a Member State, the following standard types of assistance activities can be adapted and modified to suit the particular needs of the requesting country:

Coordination and support of international observers -- This form of assistance is most commonly utilized when several governments and organizations have been invited by a Member State to observe an election. The United Nations Electoral Assistance Division establishes a small secretariat in the requesting country in cooperation with UNDP to help coordinate and provide logistical support to international election observers (e.g. sponsored by Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations) that together comprise a joint international observer group or JIOG. Optimally, such assistance begins just prior to registration and continues throughout the campaign period, concluding with the announcement of the election results. Throughout the operation, the United Nations maintains a clear public position of neutrality. The international observer groups that comprise the JIOG normally issue a joint statement of their findings in the pre- and immediate post-election period in addition to issuing their own reports. The costs of this type of assistance are offset by contributions to the operation from Member States sponsoring observers.

There are two major advantages to this type of assistance: (a) the United Nations retains a low political profile while providing support to an important political process, and (b) the approach is least intrusive of national sovereignty while at the same time providing the benefits of a coordinated international observation exercise.

Examples: This type of assistance was first tested in Ethiopia and Kenya in 1992 and subsequently provided to support the international observation of elections in Niger (‘93), Lesotho (‘93), Malawi (‘93 & ‘94), Tanzania (‘95), Armenia (‘95), Azerbaijan (‘95), Sierra Leone (‘96), Mali (‘97), Algeria (‘97), among others.

Technical Assistance -- Technical assistance is the most frequently requested type of electoral assistance and covers a broad range of short- and long-term assistance to national election authorities responsible for administering elections in their countries. The United Nations, through its various subsidiary bodies, regularly provides advice and assistance to electoral authorities in such areas as electoral administration and planning, voter registration, election budgeting, review of electoral laws and regulations, training of election officials, logistics, voter and civic education, procurement of election materials, coordination of international donor assistance, electoral dispute resolution, computerization of electoral rolls, boundary delimitation, among others. The range of technical assistance that can be provided by the United Nations has continued to expand as its experience grows.

Support for National Election Monitors -- This form of assistance underscores the importance of building the domestic observation capacity of Member States by supporting the activities of civil society to monitor elections on a non-partisan basis. Following a government request, technical assistance (e.g. training, advisory assistance) may be provided to a national network of domestic monitoring groups sponsored by local non-partisan, civic organizations. This type of assistance is best utilized in countries that are relatively well developed and pluralistic and possess a viable community of civic organizations interested in undertaking national election observation activities.

Examples: Support for national election observers was provided in Mexico in 1994 and 1997.

Limited Observation ("Follow and Report") -- In special cases, a small United Nations observer team, usually composed of UN political affairs officers, may be sent to a country to follow the final phase of an electoral process and issue an internal report to the Secretary-General on its conduct.

(ii). Major Electoral Missions
Major electoral missions require a mandate from the General Assembly or the Security Council and are considered exceptional activities of the Organization. Such missions are normally a central element of comprehensive peacekeeping operations that include an electoral component. To date, the United Nations has provided the following types of electoral assistance in the context of major missions:

Organization and conduct of an electoral process: If the United Nations is mandated to organize and conduct an election or referendum, the Organization assumes the role normally fulfilled by national electoral authorities. This mandate requires the establishment of a system of laws, procedures and administrative measures necessary for the holding of free and fair elections, as well as the actual administration of the electoral process, e.g. the establishment of a legal framework , the registration of voters, and the proper conduct of elections in accordance with international norms. Due to the cost, scope, and lead time required, among other factors, this type of assistance operation is unlikely to be undertaken except in special post-conflict situations characterized by insufficient national institutional capacity to organize elections.

Examples: The United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) was responsible for the organization and execution of national elections in Cambodia in May 1993 as part of a comprehensive peace plan. The United Nations Transitional Authority in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) was requested to organize elections for all local government bodies in April 1997 in cooperation with Croatian authorities.

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