Elections are complex. Regardless of scope, each election represents the will of the people and the cornerstone of democracy.
Thus, getting it right is critical. And yet, best practices for Election Management Bodies (EMBs) or journalists covering elections is scarce or incomplete.
The main problem is that election processes differ from one country to another and in the U.S., from state to state and even from county to county. Socio-cultural traditions, political context, and legislative differences make it hard to standardize elections and to establish a common framework from which to learn.
To lend a hand, we have compiled a list of nine valuable information resources to promote best practices for the election professionals.
1) International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES): an institution dedicated to strengthening democracy with fair and free elections. Their expertise has taken them to more than 145 countries where they have served as consultants on electoral processes.
2) ACE Electoral Knowledge Network: since 1998, this organization has become the largest online resource on electoral knowledge. Here you can find information about every aspect of elections from costs and logistics to technology adoption.
3) Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA): this UN department has many responsibilities, including overseeing elections around the globe. They provide information through their electoral tools such as ACE and Bridge.
4) International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA): an intergovernmental organization created to promote sustainable democracy worldwide. Up-to-date and valuable analysis from their experts in the blog.
5) The Future of Elections: a collection of essays regarding electoral events around the world. Some of the top experts in the sector write for this repository to offer their unique views on what it takes to run an election.
6) BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections): an organization founded with a mission to offer professional development for electoral processes.
7) MIT Election Lab + Science Lab: a collection of academic articles and papers about election technology. More focused on the U.S. market.
8) Electionline: a news outlet focused on bringing information related to elections without political bias. It is aimed at electoral officials, journalists, and advocates primarily in the U.S.
9) Election Assistance Commission: while this may seem obvious to some in the U.S., the EAC offers many resources that are often overlooked by EABs and others looking for help. Its page for elections officials is a good place to start.
Each of these resources contains useful information, trends, news, and updates for election management bodies and stakeholders in general. Collaboration and research in the election field can have a positive impact on technology implementations and democracies everywhere.