The UN Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD) is a division of the UN Department of Political Affairs (UNDPA).

Elections have been a component of decolonization, democratic transitions, and the implementation of peace accords in countries around the globe, and the United Nations has played a major role in providing  assistance for these important processes of change.  In the days of decolonization, the UN supervised and observed plebiscites and referenda leading to the creation of new independent states; today, the efforts of the Organization are increasingly focused on providing technical assistance to help Member States build credible and sustainable national election systems. 

Although UN electoral assistance has evolved over time, its basic premise has remained constant.  The foundation of UN electoral assistance is Article 21 (3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which provides that “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections….”

The General Assembly, in resolution 46/137 of 1991, endorsed the view of the Secretary-General that a Focal Point for Electoral Assistance should be designated to advise him on electoral matters and ensure coherence and consistency in UN electoral assistance.  The General Assembly also endorsed the creation of a small unit to support the Focal Point.  The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs was subsequently designated as the UN Focal Point, and he is supported in that function today by the Electoral Assistance Division of that Department.

UN System

United Nations electoral assistance draws upon the complementary expertise and capacities of many parts of the UN family.  Although the Department of Political Affairs plays a central coordinating role, electoral assistance projects are implemented by a variety of UN entities including the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme, the UN Volunteers and the UN Office for Project Services.    

Primary Types of Electoral Assistance

During the 1990s, the United Nations organized or observed landmark elections and popular consultations in Cambodia, East Timor, El Salvador, Mozambique and South Africa. More recently, the Organization has provided crucial technical and logistical assistance for important elections in countries such as Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq and Nepal. Although the UN has received considerable public attention for large-scale electoral operations, most electoral assistance is provided through short and medium-term technical projects aimed at building the capacity of national election authorities. Electoral observation, once a core activity in early UN support, is now rare.

The United Nations provides a wide variety of electoral assistance. In terms of technical support, which is most frequently requested, advice and support may be provided for electoral administration and planning, review of electoral laws and regulations, electoral dispute resolution, boundary delimitation, voter registration, election budgeting, logistics and procurement, use of technology, training, voter and civic education, voting and counting operations and election security.  

In rare cases, the United Nations may be fully responsible for the organization and conduct of elections in a Member State. This occurred in Cambodia (1992-1993) and Timor-Leste (2001-2002). In other cases, UN experts may be included in the national electoral administration; in such cases, responsibility is shared by the Member State and the UN. This was the case in Afghanistan in 2004-2005 and in Iraq in 2005. These cases remain exceptions taken in certain transitional settings. As a rule, the United Nations takes a supporting role by assisting the national electoral administration. 

In addition to requests from Member States, United Nations electoral assistance is sometimes mandated by a UN governing body such as the Security Council or the General Assembly. This is often the case when peacekeeping or peacebuilding missions are established with electoral components. Even when mandated by such bodies, UN electoral assistance must be approved by the relevant Member State. 

Since 1991, the United Nations has assisted over 100 Member States and implemented more than 300 electoral projects. For additional information, please see the EAD website at www.un.org/Depts/dpa/ead/.