Electoral Management Body Leadership Transitions

Recognizing the breadth and critical nature of challenges that can confront electoral leaders during periods of transition, IFES conducted research to identify what steps election management bodies can take to smooth transitions, and what tools are available to help in navigating the process. 

This paper captures challenges and good practices from a broad range of jurisdictions, presenting lessons around planning, assembling transition teams and strategies, external and internal engagement, and more. 

IFES also offers executive leadership training on navigating transitions, as part of its iEXCEL program.

Electoral leadership is an important variable in democratic development, either enhancing or eroding a country's resilience to shocks and crises in the election process. 

This variable is particularly salient during times of leadership transition in EMBs, which can produce a fault line or fragile seam in the leadership dynamic. 

When electoral authorities leave the institution, they also often take with them valuable institutional memory that might not be formally documented for the benefit of newcomers. New electoral authorities may need significant time to familiarize themselves with processes and structures, staff, and even the institutional culture. Reforms and improvements started during one leadership can stall or be completely replaced by new plans or priorities, leading to wasted resources and hindering institutional progress. These transitions might cause setbacks for the institution and for elections, especially when they take place amid electoral planning and preparations.