The Question

This question is posted by ACE on behalf of Pauline Welsh, Electoral Commission of Jamaica.

I am currently researching existing best practices and legislation relating to the participation of former Electoral Commissioners and senior electoral staff in the political process. Their participation may be in the form of running as political candidates, being campaign managers, caretakers, etc. 

I am aware that in some legislation there is a period of disqualification after which the above categories of persons can freely participate, however I would like more points of reference.

Are there any examples of such legislation? I would particularly be interested in examples from within the Commonwealth. 

 

Summary of Responses

Member responses suggest that there is no legislation disqualifying former Electoral Commissioners from running as political candidates, in the following countries:

• Australia
• Burundi
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Uganda
• Congo-Brazzaville
• Cameroon
• Ecuador
• Argentina
• Zimbabwe

Notwithstanding, two members suggested that Kenya enacted legislation barring participation of former Commissioners in politics. According to one member, this is for a period of five years after exiting the EMB. Electoral commission members serve six year terms.  However, this restriction only applies to former Electoral Commissioners, and not other EMB staff. Another member added that these rules are enshrined in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Act of 2011. The member also noted that this law does not mention Secretariat staff.

While other members suggested an absence of similar legislation in their countries, many generally noted that Electoral Commissioners are prohibited to participate in politics while in office. Members specifically stated this in reference to Uganda, Congo-Brazzaville, Ecuador, and Zimbabwe.

I write in relation to Australia. As far as I know, there is no provision in the Commonwealth legislation disqualifying Electoral Commissioners (etc) from active involvement in elections after they have left their posts. A disqualifying period might also raise questions about enjoyment of political rights.

In Burundi, we don't have such legislation. A former Electoral Commissioner or a senior electoral staff is qualified to be a candidate through a political party or as an independent candidate as any other citizen. I think that that restriction is contrary to the international recognized principles of enjoyment of political rights as outlined in the article 25 of the ICCPR.

As it is  already said above, there is no restriction of this kind in burundian legislation. Electoral commissionners are appointed to conduct electoral processuse either from political parties or from Civil society organisations. So if their mandate come to end, they go back to their political parties or associations and work actively and could present themselves as candidates in the electoral processus following their mandate. It is the same for a senior electoral staff. They have to enjoy their political and civil rights  recognized by international standards as all  other citizens.

There is no provision in the laws of Trinidad and Tobago that prevents the practice. I can see no reason for such a law, since the entire system of electoral management is transparent. Introduction of such a bar would offend political rights. On the whole I concur with the views previously expressed by contributors on the matter

This response is posted by ACE on behalf of PN member Ochana Patrick.

In Uganda, once out of the electoral commission work, one is free to contest in any political office either under a party or as an independent, but must do so under the frame work of the law. The law also doesn't prohibit one from being appointed as an electoral commissioner or electoral commission staff even if that person was an active political player in the past so long as you are appointed an approved by the National parliament for the case of a commissioner and by the election management body in case of a staff. In any case, if the law barred commissioners and electoral commission staff who have left the work of the Commission from participating in active political activities, then that would tantamount to violation of their rights.  

Bonjour,  dans la majorité des législations,  il est prpendantaux embres des OGE de participer au titre de candidat pendant qu'ils organisent les elections, si c'est le cas, ils doivent démissionner avant que les opérations préeclectorales ne commencent. Dans mon pays le Congo Brazzaville,  les membres des OGE peuvent participer aux élections si le mandat à eux confiés à pri fin.

Yes in Kenya there is a Legislation in place. A Member of the Electoral Commission serves a single term of six(6) years and thereafter is barred from running for a political office for five(5) years. Thereafter they qualify to vie. This prohibition is only limited to the Commissioners and not binding on the employees. Praxedes Tororey

Christine Ndayishimiye

En ma qualité d'ex Commissaire de La CENI de mon pays le Burundi, cette question m'intéresse beaucoup. Heureusement que la loi ne m'interdit pas de me présenter comme candidate  à n'importe quelle élection sinon ce serait une grave violation de mes droits reconnus par La Constitution et les instruments internationaux auxquels le Burundi a souscrit.

Il n y a rien, à mon humble avis, qui puisse justifier ce genre de restriction car un ancien Commissaire est avant tout un citoyen et comme quand il est en fonction il est invité à travailler dans la transparence, ses connaissances en matière d'organisation des élections doivent être partagées avec tous les partenaires électoraux. Par ailleurs, c'est justement son expérience qui pourrait l'aider à se présenter comme un candidat respectueux des principes d'intégrité, de la légalité et de citoyenneté responsable.

Au cameroun le mandat d'un membre du Conseil Electoral prend fin en cas de renouvellement de mandat; de demission; de deces. Selon les dispositions de l'article 16 de la loi numero 2012/001 du 19 avril 2012 portant code electoral, modifiee et completee par la loi numero 2012/017 du 21 decembre 2012 un membre dont le mandat a pris fin ne peut être candidat a l'election qui suit la fin de son mandat.

En el Ecuador no existe una prohibición para que los consejeros o magistrados eletorales dejen sus cargos para ser candidatos o participar en campañas electorales, tampoco existe un período de espera. Sin embargo se debe considerar que para ejercer funciones electorales no se puede ser militante de ninguna organización política.

Por otra parte, se debe considerar la cuestión ética, pues puede haber un conflicto de intereses.

Saludos cordiales

 

En Argentina no existe ninguna restricción para que un miembro de la Justicia Electoral pueda ejercer funciones políticas o ser candidato una vez que haya cesado en el cargo. En cuanto a la administración electoral no existen restricciones de ningún tipo, ni siquiera durante el ejercicio de la función, pero en la actualidad y desde 2010, el suscrito - titular a cargo de la Dirección Nacional Electoral - ha renunciado a su afiliación y se auto restringe respecto de la actividad política.

In Zimbabwe, constitutionally members of the Electoral Commission are to be non-political. So if persons who are members of a political party or organisation become members of the Commission, they are required to relinquish their membership without delay or within 30 days of their appointment otherwise failure to do so within the 30 days the person ceases immediately to be a member of the Commission. This is done to ensure impartiality and transparency in performance of the Commission's functions as members of the Commission are required to be non partisan or further interests of any political party. Even members of the Secretariat are required to be non-political. Once a person leaves the Commission s/he is free to participate in politics.

Kenya is an example of a commonwealth country that with legislation barring participation of Commissioners in politics for Five (5 years) after exit from the EMB.The constitution of Kenya and The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act of 2011 set out the appointment of Members of the Board (Commissioners) for nonrenewable 6 year term and prohibition to participate in partisan politics or vie for elective or political office for a period of five years after expiry of their term. In addition, the Act contains a code of conduct for Members and staff of the EMB which prohibit participation in partisan politics and demands high integrity of both Members and Staff. The law is silent on Secretariat staff hence they can participate in politics on quitting their jobs with the EMB. Prior to the enactment of the IEBC Act former Commissioners were allowed to hold political offices on. For example former Commissioners in the predecessor of the IEBC, IIEC has since produced the current member of the National Assembly (Woman representative) for Isiolo county Hon. Tiyah Galgalo. Also the current Minister for Energy in the government of Kenya Hon. Davis Chirchir is a former Commissioner with the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC). Thank you.