ACE

Encyclopaedia   Electoral Management   Reforming Electoral Processes  
Chapter Summary
  • Electoral reforms are changes targeted at improving implementation of the guiding principles of electoral administration described in Chapter 1.
  • Electoral reforms may be directed at the electoral legal framework — including the EMB — the administrative and technical processes of electoral management, or the political context for electoral activities.
  • No aspect of electoral frameworks, systems, institutions, planning, management or operations is immune from reform or modernization. EMBs need to have a clear strategy for developing or responding to and implementing electoral reforms.
  • EMBs have vital roles as advocates of electoral reforms in general, as implementers of institutional reforms, and as initiators and implementers of administrative reforms, including technical reforms.
  • Electoral reform needs to be carefully managed to ensure that it fulfills its purpose without confusing electors and with minimal disruption to electoral administration.