As any other organisation that employs staff, deals with finance, interfaces with the public, and has access to public funds, an EMB will generally need to issue a series of regulations governing the internal functioning of its operations. The standards required of an EMB are at least as high as, if not higher than, those of other public bodies. Clear rules and regulations should be developed including adherence to guidelines such as those suggested by International IDEA (Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance). These should be reviewed and reissued as needs arise.
Internal regulations may cover a number of administrative, financial, and technical issues, such as:
- staff safety and security;
- behaviour and conduct of staff and members;
- authorisations to speak to the media, meeting procedures;
- internal committees’ membership, logistics controls;
- purchasing;
- asset controls;
- financial disbursements;
- breaching procedures and consequences;
- procedure for hearing from persons, whether personally or through representation; and
- secure storage and effective management of records.
Distribution of these rules and regulations to all EMB members and staff at all levels, and the implementation of systems for regular communication within the staff, on this and other issues, will promote adherence. For Governmental Model EMBs, and other EMBs using civil service staff, the appropriate civil service regulations may be applicable, or could be modified for EMB use.
