There are many opportunities for staff to communicate with political party representatives during
the election process. If party registration is a requirement information should be available on
how to register and this should be available to all parties, providing they fulfill the necessary
criteria, in advance of registration. At registration time there may be face to face contact and the
opportunity will then exist for the party representative to ask questions about the next stage, the
nomination process, the election timetable, districting arrangements, voter registration processes,
election day itself, the arrangements for the counting of the votes and finally the tabulation and
declaration of the result of the election.
This information may not entirely be the responsibility of the EMB but staff should know where
the information may be obtained and advice should be given as appropriate. The important
factor here is that such advice should be consistent with staff acting in a non-partisan way. This
is particularly important in developing democracies where one party may have had control for
many decades. Making available more information to the existing ruling party and less available
to opposition parties should be expressly forbidden and staff made accountable for their actions.
Communication may be a problem particularly when party organization is poor. This can be
overcome in the way described above and by the calling of regular meetings with the parties.
These meetings may be to pass on up-to-date information on registration figures, election
timetable dates, polling arrangements or changes in the Rules governing elections which may be
made right up to the day of poll and even on election day itself. The meetings, provided they are
conducted in a non-partisan way can be a useful tool for the election administrators. They can
advise the parties of known problems and give information on any contingency plans in the
period up to and including election day. In addition, they can act as a vehicle for the
underscoring of the impartiality and independence of the EMB thus re-establishing the
confidence of the parties in the whole election process.
Bosnia's EMB only invited key parties in 1996, leading to complaints by smaller parties; Ghana's
EMB established an inter-party advisory committee which brought party representatives together
with election administrators on a regular basis in advance of the 1996 elections; Mozambique
held both provincial and national co-ordinating meetings with parties. This shows the different
way the EMB can communicate with political parties.
