A thorough debriefing following an election is crucial in the forward planning process for the
next election. An efficient competent election manager should aim to have in place systems and
procedures that can operate without him/her.
Debriefing and the connected documentation of activities should be the foundation for the next
election.
The people to be included in the debriefing include:
- as many staff who participated in the electoral process as possible;
- candidates and
agents;
- the media;
- NGOs and civic organizations;
- equipment suppliers;
- the electors.
Meetings should take place wherever possible or written representations should be accepted. The
purpose of the debriefing is to obtain as many views and comments as possible to better inform
preparations for the next election. This purpose should be clearly communicated to all the
participants and they should all be encouraged to contribute in an open and frank way. The EMB
should not be defensive about its management of the election but should recognize the value
process and the potential for making improvements in the future.
The debriefings should form part of the overall strategic planning process of the EMB Administrative Bodies.
The costs of the debriefing process require budgeting for and the extent to which large numbers
of staff and the electorate may be consulted should be viewed in the context of the cost of the
exercise and the benefit of increasing greatly the number of people consulted.
The calendar of events may provide an agenda for discussions which need to be managed and
structured to avoid descent into acrimony and unstructured discussion.
