In most electoral systems, one or more bodies are responsible for official oversight and supervision of election administration. This may be a separate office within the main EMB (such as an auditor or inspector general) or a separate institution, including a legislative committee, court or special statutory body. Examples of a separate institution are the Commissioner of Canada Elections, Mexico’s Federal Electoral Tribunal, and the constitutional courts of Austria, Croatia, Germany, and Romania.

Inspector-general or auditor-general offices can provide oversight of the electoral process on a regular basis. In some systems, they work together with electoral administrators to improve management and the electoral process; this is part of their mandate to ensure efficiency and accountability, promote savings and curb waste, fraud and abuse. This type of oversight can help managers identify systemic deficiencies and make corrections to ensure compliance with all regulations and achievement of intended results.

An inspector-general or an independent oversight commission may also investigate complaints made by employees or other participants in the electoral process. The complaints may be allegations of misconduct or mismanagement, illegal activities, waste, abuse of authority, or public safety or security threats.[1]