Political parties and candidates are key stakeholders; EMBs must consider their concerns and interests when designing and implementing policies and activities. Unless the EMB enjoys a good relationship with, and the confidence of, political parties, its policies and programmes will attract criticism that will make it difficult for it to enjoy widespread stakeholder support. Where political party nominees are appointed as full members of an EMB, as in Georgia, or as non-voting members, as in Mexico, there is a permanent structure for EMB dialogue with the political parties.
Political parties and candidates are more likely to have confidence in an EMB that maintains an open-door policy to them; treats all political parties and candidates with respect, impartiality and fairness; and considers their opinions and suggestions. It is important that all political parties believe that they are being treated equitably and are offered the same opportunities and information by the EMB. Regular meetings with political parties — possibly more frequently during an electoral period — can provide a framework for reciprocal communication and can promote acceptance of the EMB’s timetables, processes and outputs.
EMBs in Canada, Lesotho and South Africa have arrangements along such lines. In Kenya, the EMB liaises with parties in a formally constituted political party liaison committee. In South Africa, the law requires the EMB to set up political party liaison committees at all levels of government, from the national to the local level, and in Mexico political parties’ non-voting membership of the EMB serves a similar purpose. Other countries, such as Australia, have instituted consultative structures although they are not legally required to do so. It is preferable for the EMB to meet all the political parties at the same time (rather than separately) to discuss its decisions or policies. Minutes of these meetings need to be provided to all political parties, whether they have attended or not.
In addition to these regular meetings, an EMB may be able to improve its relationships with political parties by including their representatives in EMB-sponsored events. Examples of joint activities are familiarization visits to voter registration facilities, participation in voter education and information workshops, joint media interviews or EMB-sponsored public debates between candidates. Equal opportunity to participate should be given to all political parties/blocs and candidates.
It is important to involve political parties in consultations about setting an EMB’s strategic objectives and evaluations of its performance. As key EMB customers, political parties’ and candidates’ opinions on the EMB’s focus, priorities and service are a useful way to improve electoral management. After each electoral event, it is useful for the EMB to include political parties in general consultations with stakeholders on how to improve the electoral framework, and to consider them in any proposals for electoral reform.
