Elections are complex and specialized processes that are most effectively managed by a body with specific electoral management responsibilities.
An EMB is an institution or body founded for the sole purpose of managing some or all of the essential elements of electoral management, which include:
determining who is eligible to vote;
receiving and validating the nominations of electoral participants (for elections, political parties and/or candidates);
conducting polling;
counting the votes; and
tabulating the votes.
Essential and other electoral tasks may be conducted by a single body, or be allocated to multiple bodies.
There are three broad models of electoral management:
Independent Model
Governmental Model
Mixed Model
Each model of electoral management may encompass one or more EMBs with varying functions.
An Independent Model of electoral management consists of an EMB (or sometimes two) that is institutionally independent from the executive branch of government. In the Governmental Model, EMBs are part of and accountable to the executive branch.
A Mixed Model typically consists of two component EMBs: an independent EMB with policy and/or monitoring powers, and a governmental EMB responsible for the implementation of the electoral process.
A critical issue for all EMBs, whether institutionally independent or not, is independence of decision-making and action. An EMB’s behaviour and attitudes are more important for building public trust in the credibility of electoral management than the institutional framework within which it operates.
Each model of electoral management has some basic attributes, but also many variations. The way in which EMBs work depends not merely on the model used, but also on other electoral framework, social, cultural and political factors.
There are many types of EMBs within the three broad models. They may be permanent or temporary, and may be centralized or decentralized to varying degrees. Each structure has its advantages and disadvantages that need to be carefully assessed according to the particular country’s conditions.
Special coordination considerations may be necessary for EMBs in federal countries and in transitional environments, where an international presence on the EMB may assist in conflict management.
EMBs preferably have an allocated minister to represent their views to the cabinet and a multiparty committee of the legislature that deals with electoral matters.
Regardless of which model is used, all EMBs need to follow some guiding principles, including independence of decision-making and action, impartiality, integrity, transparency, efficiency, professionalism and service-mindedness. These principles are sometimes more fully achieved under the Independent Model than by the other models.
