Published Article

ABSTRACT
This study sought to critically assess the qualification for recruitment and appointment of
EMB members. Some form of consultation in appointing members of the EMB is more
common. Involving the legislature, including opposition parties, in the confirmation process
can help provide some degree of multiparty support for the appointments. Parliamentary
factions and groups are consulted in Ukraine, and in Trinidad and Tobago appointments are
made based on the advice of the prime minister following consultation with the opposition
leader. Whether the final choice is made by the head of state or the legislature, a nominating
committee or less formal grouping of individuals is used for part of the process in some
cases. In many cases, the nominating committee decides who to appoint, but in some cases a
committee presents a list of names that includes more names than there are places to be
filled, and another body makes the final choice from within that group. The study concluded
that there is no optimal number of EMB members, and no general principle to indicate that
either full- or part-time EMB membership is preferable. The size of the country and its
population, economic and geopolitical issues; the EMB’s powers and functions; the strength
of its secretariat; and whether electoral management follows the Independent or the Mixed
Model may determine the size and work schedule of the EMB membership. One of the
recommendations made was that a quality EMB membership selection process can be
achieved by open advertising for candidates and ranking all applicants according to a
transparently applied ‘fit and proper’ test.
KEYWORDS: Qualification, Recruitment, Appointment, Electoral Management
Board, Internal Regulations, Appointment, Pledge-taking, Service and
Security of Tenure