Strengthening Election Management Body Communications with Political Parties in Elections

Election management bodies (EMBs) and political parties play important accountability roles in democracies: EMBs as stewards of elections and political parties as key links between government and the public. The relationship between these actors, however, can be inhibited by mistrust – particularly stemming from poor or inefficient channels of communication and engagement. EMBs largely lack access to comparative good practices to improve the ways they communicate with political parties and candidates. This guide contributes to filling this gap: it identifies factors that shape how EMBs currently engage and communicate with parties, compares practical examples with established principles in communication and stakeholder engagement, highlights common mechanisms used by EMBs around the world, and provides guiding questions and practical next steps. Although EMBs are the primary audience for this guide, political parties, technical assistance providers that work with parties and EMBs, and the broader electoral integrity community of practice will also find it useful.