Strengthen Electoral Management Bodies: The Electoral Commission and the OSE could enhance their effectiveness and independence by acquiring adequate staff and
sufficient budgets. The establishment of an electoral management body on a permanent basis would help develop institutional knowledge and improve its planning, training and preparation capacity. Under the current system, the Supervisor of Elections is frequently not in a position to establish his authority over the four divisional Returning Officers due to their normal institutional status as Division Commissioners. At the very least, the appropriateness of Division Commissioners being automatically appointed as Returning Officers during election periods should be reviewed. An explicitly established chain of responsibility and the introduction of clear procedures governing the grounds for the removal from office of the Supervisor of Elections would help clarify working relationships within the electoral management bodies.