EMBs are responsible for the compilation of election results from the field, reconciliation of results at the electoral district and central levels, announcement of the preliminary election results and announcement of the final election results.

The imperative is to minimize the time lapse between election day and announcement of the final election results. Any unnecessary or unexplained delay will feed suspicions concerning the integrity of results processing. Whether real or perceived, biased processing of election results will increase the likelihood of outbreaks of violence.

Empirical cases:

• Mozambique presidential and parliamentary elections 1999. International observers charged that the national Electoral Commission did not follow international standards relating to electoral transparency, or release official results in a timely manner.[1] When it did announce the results, they were viewed as fraudulent by the opposition Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (RENAMO). Approximately 100 people died during the violent protests that followed.[2]
  
  Interrelated factors: inadequate funding, financing and budgeting (internal); unequal media access and favouritism (internal); poor voter information campaign (internal).[3]

• Kenya parliamentary and presidential elections 2007. Much of the violence that occurred was due to irregularities after election day.[4] After analysing the results from 18 selected constituencies, an independent review commission found that there were indications that the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) had conducted a poor tallying process.[5] Allegations of malpractice and fraud following the result’s announcement contributed to triggering election-related violence that led to the deaths of more than 1,100 people killed by armed individuals or mobs. The security forces were also criticised for either failing to prevent these killings or, in some instances, for being directly responsible for them.[6]
  
  Interrelated factors: gender-based discrimination and violence (external); presence of non-state armed actors (external); poor socio-economic conditions (external).[7]
• Djibouti, parliamentary elections, 2013. February 2013 parliamentary election were the first where the opposition had participated since 2003. The election took place in a tense context marked by significant curtailment of opposition and media freedoms. Amid accusations of widespread fraud, the opposition refused to accept the declared results. A formal complaint was rejected on a legal technicality, and polling station results were not published. Large-scale protests followed, resulting in widespread detentions.[8] Opposition parliamentarians boycotted parliament for months, until an agreement was reached with the government in December 2014[9]. 2016 elections were subject to similar challenges and controversies.[10]
  

  
  Interrelated factors: Conflict relating to changing power dynamics (external); Human right violations[11] (external); Unequal media access and favoritism (internal); Provocative and violent actions by political parties (internal); Rejection of the election results (internal).