In the UK, all senior electoral administrators (returning officers) belong to the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA). The AEA conducts regular training and education for electoral administrators, acts to safeguard their interests, and serves as a network of resources and expertise for its members. It offers professional qualification courses, which are mandatory for appointment to electoral-related positions in UK local authorities, which are governmental EMBs.
In the United States, the National Association of State Election Directors and the National Association of Secretaries of State serve as useful forums for electoral managers to exchange views and improve their capacities and performance. The International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers (IACREOT) holds regular electoral professional development courses for its members, and annual trade shows for electoral-related equipment and supplies. The National Association of Clerks and County Recorders (NACRC), the Election Center and the National Association of Counties also organize events for local election officials.
The Electoral Council of Australia, a consultative forum comprising national and state electoral commissioners and chief electoral officers, meets regularly. Its main objectives are to ensure the quality of the electoral registers for all elections in Australia and to improve Australian electoral administration in general. The Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina Election Officials (AEOBiH) consists of electoral officials from the three entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and holds conferences, seminars and other consultations to promote democratic, open, transparent elections. Similar activities are carried out by the Federal Forum of Provincial Electoral Bodies of Argentina, which brings together sub-national EMBs to exchange experiences, legislation and case law in electoral matters.
