Elections & Political Processes
TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — LESSONS LEARNED
The Elections & Political Processes Division realizes that context is critical. Yet, general principles for engagement provide guidance and insights into the development of programs and provision of assistance.
- Support to a nascent electoral process should begin well before a scheduled election. Countries coming out of conflict, lacking basic institutional capacity, reliable population data and/or impartial electoral laws will need assistance even earlier.
- Support for an election should strategically consider all of the elements and processes involved in an election. Enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of an election can take place in a number of areas, such as generally agreed upon legal reforms, a fair and inclusive voter registration, and effective and timely election dispute resolution.
- A determination of the credibility of an election can not be assessed by viewing the election-day alone. Various techniques of observation with established standards, such as short and long term domestic and international observation missions and parallel vote tabulations, are preferable to relying on a single method.
- Impediments to credible elections may be technical or political, or both. Diplomatic and other international efforts can play a major role in supporting political will where it exists and encouraging leaders to support fair and competitive elections.
- Planning and programming assistance to elected bodies and individuals in post-election period should begin before the election to avoid a break in assistance during the critical period when newly elected officials are taking office.
- Political party support does not need to be confined to election processes. Supporting political parties in between elections to govern effectively or build their organizations can enhance good governance and political party development
 Read more about our Strategic Focus
Read more about our Strategic Goals
Elections and Political Processes (EPP) Fund
 The EPP fund has supported critical activities in more than 30 countries with the $27 million that it has received since 2006. Countries have qualified for assistance based on carefully negotiated criteria that include foreign policy priority, urgent need, and potential impact of innovative investments. While the EPP Division managed the fund, other key players such as the National Security Council, the Office of the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance, and regional bureaus at the State Department and USAID were central to the selection of candidate countries. The EPP Fund has supported key political party and civil society actors, capitalized on democratic breakthroughs, and bolstered delicate peace processes. It has accomplished this through assistance with election administration, election oversight by government and non-government actors, and political party training. Despite difficult environments and short lead times, improvements in the election processes could be traced to USAID and EPP Fund assistance.
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