The conduct of electoral direct democracy instruments—referendums, citizens’ initiatives and recall votes—raises issues that are for the most part similar to those raised by the conduct of elections. Additional issues may include verifying that the processes for calling direct democracy votes have been correctly followed—a contentious issue, for example, in Venezuela’s presidential recall vote in 2004— and regulating campaigning and voter education and information. In the US state of Oregon, the EMB is required to distribute to every household a collection of the position statements submitted by citizens on each issue submitted to referendum.

It is usual for EMBs to be responsible for organizing both elections and direct democracy instruments. However, the UK Electoral Commission, which does not perform the role of EMB for elections (for which a Governmental Model electoral management structure is used), is tasked with the role of EMB for referendums.