View source for Election commission

{{Short description|Body which oversees elections}}
{{About|bodies which oversee elections|bodies which elect people to particular offices|Electoral college}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2012}}
{{Politics sidebar|expanded=Organs of government}}
An '''election commission''' is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an '''electoral commission''',<ref name=AEC>{{cite web | url=http://www.aec.gov.au/ | title=Australian Electoral Commission | access-date=December 15, 2018}}</ref> a '''central'''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://electionresources.org/eastern.europe.html#LV | title=Elections to the Latvian Saeima (Parliament) | last=Alvarez-Rivera | first=Manuel | website=Election Resources on the Internet | access-date=December 15, 2018}}</ref> or '''state election commission''',<ref name="SC"/> or an '''election board''',<ref name=OSEB>{{cite web | url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/ | title=Oklahoma State Election Board | access-date=December 15, 2018}}</ref> an '''electoral council'''<ref name="TSEC"/>  or an '''electoral court'''.<ref name="Brazil TSE">{{cite web | url=http://english.tse.jus.br/the-electoral-justice/the-electoral-justice-1/the-electoral-justice | title=Superior Electoral Court, Brazil (TSE) | access-date=December 15, 2018 | archive-date=November 16, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116143742/http://english.tse.jus.br/the-electoral-justice/the-electoral-justice-1/the-electoral-justice | url-status=dead }}</ref> Election commissions can be independent, mixed, judicial or executive. They may also be responsible for electoral [[boundary delimitation]]. In [[federation]]s there may be a separate body for each subnational government. An election commission has a duty to ensure elections are conducted in an orderly manner{{According to whom|date=November 2021}}.

==Electoral models==
===Independent model ===
In the independent model the election commission is independent of the executive and manages its own budget. Countries with an independent election commission include Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United Kingdom. In some of these countries the independence of the election commission is constitutionally guaranteed e.g. section 190 of the [[Constitution of South Africa]].

===Branch model===
In the branch model the election commission is often called an electoral branch, and is usually a constitutionally-recognized [[Separation of powers|separate branch of government]], with its members appointed by either the executive or the legislative branch. Countries with an electoral branch include Bolivia, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

===Mixed model===
In the mixed-model there is an independent board to determine policy, but implementation is usually a matter for an executive department with varying degrees of supervision by the independent board. Countries with such a model include Cameroon, France, Germany, Japan, Senegal and Spain.

===Executive model===
In the executive model the election commission is directed by a cabinet minister as part of the executive branch of government, and may include [[local government]] authorities acting as agents of the central body. Countries with this model include Denmark, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia.

In the United States, elections for federal, state, and local offices are run by the executive branch of each state government.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://dos.myflorida.com/elections/about-us/|website=Florida Division of Elections|publisher=Florida Department of State|access-date=13 February 2017}}</ref>

===Judicial model===
In the judicial model the election commission is closely supervised by and ultimately responsible to a special "''electoral court''". Countries with such a model include Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

==List of election commissions==
 
*{{flag|Afghanistan}} 
**[[Independent Election Commission]] (defunct since 2021)
**[[Election Complaints Commission]] (defunct since 2021)
*{{flag|Albania}}: [[Central Election Commission of Albania|Central Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Argentina}}
**[[Dirección Nacional Electoral]]
**[[Cámara Nacional Electoral]]
*{{flag|Australia}}: [[Australian Electoral Commission]]<ref name=AEC />
**{{flag|Australian Capital Territory}}: [[Australian Capital Territory Electoral Commission|Electoral Commission]]
**{{flag|New South Wales}}: [[New South Wales Electoral Commission|Electoral Commission]]
**{{flag|Northern Territory}}: [[Northern Territory Electoral Commission|Electoral Commission]]
**{{flag|Queensland}}: [[Electoral Commission of Queensland|Electoral Commission]]
**{{flag|South Australia}}: [[Electoral Commission of South Australia|Electoral Commission]]
**{{flag|Tasmania}}: [[Tasmanian Electoral Commission|Electoral Commission]]
**{{flag|Victoria}}: [[Victorian Electoral Commission|Electoral Commission]]
**{{flag|Western Australia}}: [[Western Australian Electoral Commission|Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|Bangladesh}}: [[Bangladesh Election Commission|Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Belarus}}: [[Central Election Commission of Belarus|Central Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Belize}}: [[Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission|Elections and Boundaries Commission]]
*{{flag|Bolivia}}
**[[Plurinational Electoral Organ]] (since 2010)
**''[[National Electoral Court of Bolivia|National Electoral Court]]'' (defunct since 2010)
*{{flag|Belgium}}: [[Federal Public Service Interior]]
*{{flag|Brazil}}: [[Superior Electoral Court]]<ref name="Brazil TSE" />
**[[Regional Electoral Courts]]
*{{flag|Cambodia}}: [[National Election Committee (Cambodia)|National Election Committee]]
*{{flag|Canada}}: [[Elections Canada]]
**[[Élections Québec]]
**[[Elections Alberta]]
**[[Elections BC]]
**[[Elections Manitoba]]
**[[Elections New Brunswick]]
**[[Elections Newfoundland & Labrador]]
**[[Elections Nova Scotia]]
**[[Elections Nunavut]]
**[[Elections NWT]]
**[[Elections Ontario]]
**[[Elections Prince Edward Island]]
**[[Elections Saskatchewan]]
**[[Elections Yukon]]
*{{flag|Chile}}: [[Electoral Service]]
*{{flag|China }} (excl. Hong Kong and Macau) [[Election Committee (China)|Election Committee]]s for Local People's Congress elections only
*{{flag|Colombia}}: [[National Electoral Council of Colombia|National Electoral Council]]
*{{flag|Costa Rica}}: [[Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones de Costa Rica|Supreme Electoral Court]]
*{{flag|Cuba}}: {{ill|National Election Council|es|Consejo Electoral Nacional de Cuba}}
*{{flag|Cyprus}}: [[Central Elections Office]]
*{{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}: [[Independent National Electoral Commission (DRC)|Independent National Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|Ecuador}}
**[[National Electoral Council (Ecuador)|National Electoral Council]]
**{{ill|Electoral Contentious Tribunal|es|Tribunal Contencioso Electoral}}
*{{flag|Egypt}}: [[High Elections Committee]]
*{{flag|Ethiopia}}: [[National Election Board of Ethiopia|National Election Board]]
*{{flag|Fiji}}: [[Electoral Commission (Fiji)|Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|France}}: [[Constitutional Council of France|Constitutional Council]]
*{{flag|Germany}}: [[Federal Returning Officer]]
*{{flag|Ghana}}: [[Electoral Commission of Ghana|Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|Guyana}}: [[Guyana Elections Commission|Elections Commission]]
*{{flag|Haiti}}: [[Provisional Electoral Council]]
*{{flag|Hong Kong}}: [[Electoral Affairs Commission]]
*{{flag|Iceland}}: [[National Electoral Commission of Iceland|National Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|India}}: [[Election Commission of India|Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Indonesia}}: [[General Elections Commission (Indonesia)|General Elections Commission]]
*{{flag|Iran}}: [[Guardian Council]]
*{{flag|Iraq}}: [[Independent High Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|Ireland}}: [[Electoral Commission (Ireland)|Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|Israel}}: [[Central Elections Committee]]
*{{flag|Italy}}: [[Central Directorate for Electoral Services]]
*{{flag|Japan}}: [[Central Election Management Council]]
*{{flag|Jordan}}: [[Independent Election Commission (Jordan)|Independent Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Kazakhstan}}: [[Central Election Commission (Kazakhstan)|Central Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Kenya}}
**[[Interim Independent Electoral Commission of Kenya|Interim Independent Electoral Commission]] (since 2008)
**''[[Electoral Commission of Kenya|Electoral Commission]]'' (defunct since 2008)
*{{flag|Kosovo}}: {{ill|Central Election Commission (Kosovo)|sq|Komisioni Qendror i Zgjedhjeve (Kosovë)}}
*{{flag|Laos}}: [[National Election Committee (Lao)]]
*{{flag|Liberia}}: [[National Elections Commission of Liberia|National Elections Commission]]
*{{flag|Libya}}: [[High National Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Macau}}: [[Electoral Affairs Commission (Macau)]]
*{{flag|Malaysia}}: [[Election Commission of Malaysia|Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Malta}}: [[Electoral Commission (Malta)|Electoral Commission]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Electoral Commission of Malta Welcome to the portal of the Electoral Commission of Malta |url=https://electoral.gov.mt/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=electoral.gov.mt}}</ref>
*{{flag|Mexico}}
**[[National Electoral Institute]]
**[[Federal Electoral Tribunal]]
*{{flag|Moldova}}: [[Central Election Commission of Moldova|Central Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Myanmar}}   [[Union Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|Nepal}}: [[Election Commission of Nepal|Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Netherlands}}: [[Electoral Council (Netherlands)|Electoral Council]]
*{{flag|New Zealand}}: [[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|Nicaragua}}: [[Supreme Electoral Council of Nicaragua|Supreme Electoral Council]]
*{{flag|Nigeria}}: [[Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria|Independent National Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|North Korea}}: [[Central Election Committee (North Korea)]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Report of Central Election Committee in DPRK Issued |url=https://dprktoday.com/abroad/news/13883?lang= |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=dprktoday.com}}</ref>
*{{flag|Northern Cyprus}}: [[High Electoral Board]]
*{{flag|Norway}}: [[Norwegian Directorate of Elections]]
*{{flag|Pakistan}}: [[Election Commission of Pakistan|Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Palestine}}: [[Elections in Palestine#Central Elections Commission|Central Elections Commission]]
*{{flag|Philippines}}: [[Philippines Commission on Elections|Commission on Elections]]
**Once a winner is proclaimed, only these tribunals can rule on election matters 
***{{flag|Philippines}}: [[Presidential Electoral Tribunal]] (entirely composed of the [[Supreme Court of the Philippines|Supreme Court]])
***[[Senate Electoral Tribunal]]
***[[House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal]]
***[[Regional Trial Court]]s for local officials
*{{flag|Poland}}: [[National Electoral Commission (Poland)|National Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|Portugal}}: {{ill|National Elections Commission (Portugal)|pt|Comissão Nacional de Eleições}}
*{{Flag|Puntland}}: [[Puntland Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|Russia}}: [[Central Election Commission of Russia|Central Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Singapore}}: [[Elections Department]]
*{{flag|Slovenia}}: [[State Election Commission (Slovenia)|State Election Commission]] ''(Državna volilna komisija)''
*{{flag|Somaliland}}: [[National Electoral Commission (Somaliland)|National Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|South Africa}}: [[Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa|Independent Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|South Korea}}: [[National Election Commission of South Korea|National Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Spain}}: [[Junta Electoral Central]]
*{{flag|Sri Lanka}}: [[Election Commission of Sri Lanka]]
*{{flag|Sweden}}: [[Election Authority of Sweden|Election Authority]]
*{{flag|Taiwan}}: [[Central Election Commission (Taiwan)|Central Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Tanzania }}: [[National Electoral Commission (Tanzania)|National Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|Thailand}}: [[Election Commission of Thailand|Election Commission]]
*{{flag|Tunisia}}: [[Independent High Authority for Elections]]
*{{flag|Turkey}}: [[Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey]]<ref name="TSEC">{{Cite web |title=YSK Web Portal |url=https://www.ysk.gov.tr/en/supreme-election-council/1841 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=www.ysk.gov.tr}}</ref>
*{{flag|Ukraine}}: [[Central Election Commission of Ukraine|Central Election Commission]]
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}: [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]]
*{{flag|United States}}
**[[Election Assistance Commission]], serves as a national clearinghouse and resource regarding election administration, establishes best practices, and provides financial aid to state electoral systems.
**[[Federal Election Commission]], regulates campaign finance legislation
**[[Electoral Commission (United States)|Electoral Commission]], a special commission for the [[1876 United States presidential election|1876 presidential election]]
**{{flag|Florida}}: [[Florida Election Commission]]
**{{flag|Hawaii}}: [[Hawaii Elections Commission]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=State of Hawaii Office of Elections |url=https://elections.hawaii.gov/about-us/boards-and-commissions/elections-commission/ |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=Elections Commission}}</ref>
**{{flag|Illinois}}: [[Illinois State Board of Elections]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Board of Elections |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ |access-date=7 December  2023 |website=Illinois State Board of Elections |archive-date=2019-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621154554/https://www.elections.il.gov/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
**{{flag|Maryland}}: [[Maryland State Board of Elections]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maryland State Board of Elections |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=elections.maryland.gov}}</ref>
**{{flag|New York}}: [[New York State Board of Elections]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Board of Elections |url=https://www.elections.ny.gov/ |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=New York State Board of Elections}}</ref>
**{{flag|North Carolina}}: [[North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Page {{!}} NCSBE |url=https://www.ncsbe.gov/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=North Carolina State Board of Elections}}</ref>
**{{flag|Oklahoma}}: [[Oklahoma State Election Board]]<ref name=OSEB />
**{{flag|Puerto Rico}}: [[State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico|State Elections Commission]]
**{{flag|South Carolina}}: [[South Carolina State Election Commission]]<ref name=SC>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://scvotes.gov/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=SC Votes - South Carolina Election Commission |language=en-US}}</ref>
**{{flag|Virginia}}: [[Virginia State Board of Elections]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virginia Department of Elections - Home |url=https://www.elections.virginia.gov/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=www.elections.virginia.gov}}</ref>
**{{flag|Wisconsin}}: [[Wisconsin Elections Commission]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-04 |title=Wisconsin Elections Commission |url=https://elections.wi.gov/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=elections.wi.gov |language=en}}</ref>
*{{flag|Uruguay}}: [[Electoral Court (Uruguay)|Electoral Court]]
*{{flag|Venezuela}}: [[National Electoral Council of Venezuela|National Electoral Council]]
*{{flag|Vietnam}}: [[National Election Council (Vietnam)]]
*{{flag|Zimbabwe}}: [[Zimbabwe Electoral Commission|Electoral Commission]]

== Election commissions in Africa ==
{{Original research section|date=November 2021}}
As of 2021, 53 out of 55 African nations (save for [[Eritrea]] and [[Elections in Somalia|Somalia]], which do not hold elections) use or have used election commissions to organize and supervise their elections. First introduced in the Sudan in 1957, election commissions were created across the continent especially after many African nations introduced a system of [[Multi-party system|multi-party democracy]] in the early 1990s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Marzin|first=Régis|title=Les commissions électorales et le retour du multipartisme entre 1990 et 1994 en Afrique, Historique des commissions électorales de 1957 à 2021.|year=2021|language=French}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Electoral college]], a body which elects a candidate to a particular office.
*
*[[Association of Central and Eastern European Election Officials]]
*[[Association of African Election Authorities]]
*[[Court of Disputed Returns]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120225005359/http://www.aaeasec.org/ Association of Asian Election Authorities]
*[http://www.aceeeo.org Association of European Election Officials]

{{National election commissions}}
{{Law}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Election commission}}
[[Category:Election commissions| ]]
[[Category:Elections]]