The electoral legal framework will generally specify the number of EMB members. However, when the membership of a multiparty EMB is determined by criteria such as party representation in the legislature, it is not possible to specify an exact number of members, as this number may vary over time.
The number of members of EMBs varies considerably worldwide, and need not be related to the size of the country. For example, in the small country of Lesotho, the EMB has three members, while Nigeria, a much bigger country, has a 13-member EMB. However, Canada, despite its sizeable land mass, and India, which has about 700 million voters, have one- and three-member EMBs, respectively. Having a larger number of EMB members may provide broader representation, whereas a smaller number can facilitate discussion and decision- making. Having an uneven number of members ensures that simple majority vote decisions can be made without having to resort to measures such as giving the EMB chair a casting vote. EMBs that include political party nominees tend to have more members than expert-based EMBs, in order to accommodate a credible range of political interests.
Electoral law in countries such as Guatemala and Turkey allows for the appointment of alternate or deputy members to EMBs. Under certain circumstances, a deputy member can automatically take the place and exercise the powers of a member.
