The final step for electoral managers is to announce the official results. The official results should be an accurate reflection of the vote totals and include the official resolution of disputed ballots and counts. Ensuring accurate results is an essential election integrity issue. Manipulating the official result can often be used as a 'mechanism of last resort'230 whereby victories are inflated or defeats corrected. In these cases, the official results may not reflect the will of the voters, damaging the integrity of the election.
The integrity of the official results can be protected by using the same safeguards that are used to protect the integrity of the vote (see Integrity Measures to Protect Against Fraud) and Counting. These include having efficient systems with adequate control mechanisms and good oversight. Continued monitoring throughout the count by observers and monitors can deter manipulation of the results. Monitors can compare their parallel vote count with the official results and immediately report any differences through both the official complaint system and the press.
Releasing the official results in a timely manner is also important. The longer it takes to release results, the more time there is to manipulate the count. A long delay in the release of results, even if they are accurate, can raise suspicions of tampering which can damage the credibility of the results when they are finally released.
In South Africa, for instance, issuing timely results is ensured by 'the commission (which) may determine and declare the result of an election without having received the results of all voting stations, if: a) to wait for the receipt of the result from every voting station would unduly and unreasonably delay the determination and declaration of the result of that election; and b) the outstanding results are not likely to materially influence the overall result of that election.'231
Taking Office
The final step of a vaild electoral process is for the winner of the election to take office. In the older democracies, the transfer of power from one elected official to another is routine and not an issue. But for countries in transition, such as Angola or Myanmar, this final step can be difficult and can abruptly end the democratic election process.
In post-conflict societies or countries with a history of undemocratic rule it is important to address these issues directly in the planning process. Having an election that is accurate, transparent, free, fair and credible (see Guiding Principles) can help minimize the excuses for a loser not to accept the election results. Accurate parallel counts by political parties can help validate the results. International Election Observation missions can certify an election and its elections results as 'acceptable'. All of these make it more difficult for a loser to justify its rejection. However, if a ruling power with control over the security apparatus or a militarized faction refuses to accept the election results, it is usually beyond the control of the electoral management body, and is an issue which is usually dealt with on a political level.
