Whilst there will always be an argument about the meaning of democracy, there is a great deal of agreement emerging about the guiding principles that should govern election management. An election management body (EMB) should be founded on principles of independence, nonpartisanship, and professionalism. It should have clear procedures to make it accountable and have equally clear procedures for reviewing its effectiveness both as a management organisation and as a service deliverer. It must be nonpolitical but capable of operating in a political environment.