Who are the Stakeholders? What Is Their Role in the Electoral Process?

The stakeholders of an EMB are those individuals, groups and organizations that have an interest or ‘stake’ in its operations. They can be classified as either primary stakeholders, who directly affect or are directly affected by the EMB’s activities, policies and practices; or as secondary stakeholders, who have a looser connection with the EMB’s activities. Genuine and open dialogue with stakeholders can build confidence in the electoral process and trust in the EMB’s activities.

Primary Stakeholders

Primary stakeholders include the following groups:

• political parties and candidates;
• EMB staff;
• the executive branch of government;
• legislatures;
• electoral dispute resolution bodies;
• the judicial system;
• election monitors and citizen and international election observers;
• the media;
• the electorate: voters and prospective voters;
• CSOs; and
• the donor community and electoral assistance agencies.