International Elections Advisory Council

The International Elections Advisory Council (IEAC) was founded in 2014 in order to bring together an experienced group of global experts in the field of elections. The specialists gather to discuss election-related topics and focus on new technologies and innovative systems.
History
As other advisory councils in the technology or elections industry, the IEAC is an independent group of authorities in their areas ( elections administration, electoral monitoring and e-Democracy), whose mission is providing nonbinding strategic advice and support to election officials and election technology providers.
The idea behind the Council, as it is common with other advisory boards, it was to enable the public election administrators and the owners or managers of private election services to have access to an independent view and a safe place to discuss issues of major significance when undergoing reforming paths with their elections.
The IEAC was first established in 2014 by the SGO Corporation, a holding company headquartered in London, whose primary asset is the voting machine manufacturer Smartmatic.
Functioning and members
The IEAC is chaired by Mr Richard W. Soudriette, founding president of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), and it comprises experts in election administration from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
The specialists gather to discuss election-related topics and focus on new technologies and innovative systems that will promote efficiency, transparency and trust in electoral processes around the world. For instance, in 2015 the IEAC met in London to discuss how technology can help strengthening democracy. “During our meetings, we discussed the great responsibility shouldered by those who administer elections. The impact of election outcomes goes far beyond just determining the winners. Our council members agreed that when properly implemented, election technology can be a vital tool to enhance transparency and trust in elections. Increased credibility of elections in turn contributes to social, economic and political stability of democracies,” said Mr Soudriette, after the IEAC third annual meeting.
Current IEAC’s members include: Mr Richard W. Soudriette (IEAC Chairman), founder and President Emeritus of IFES, founding member and adviser to the ACEEEO and international adviser to the Association of World Election Bodies; Dr Brigalia Bam, former Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa, former Chancellor of the Walter Sisulu University and Nelson Mandela University and previous member of the International IDEA and the Institute for Global Dialogue; Mr Charles Lasham, founding member and former chairman of the UK Association of Electoral Administrators, Election Returning Officer for Liverpool and country director for IFES; Dr S.Y. Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, member of the board of directors of International IDEA; Paul DeGregorio, commissioner and chairman of the United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of IFES; Dr Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, former Chairman of the and author and professor at the Department of Political Science of the Bayero University; Dr Leonardo Valdés Zurita, former President Councillor of the , founding member and former chairman of the Mexican Society of Electoral Studies and an honorary member of the ACEEEO.
Former IEAC members include Mr Torquato Jardim, law Professor and author, magistrate at the Federal Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Brazil, considered to be one of the top specialists in Electoral Law in Brazil.
According to Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, SGO Chairman and former United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and UK government minister, “the main objective of this advisory council is to offer an independent and knowledgeable perspective on what it takes to run an effective election. They share thoughts on the global electoral landscape, give ideas on how to enfranchise more people and offer food for thought for governments, electoral management bodies and many others who work on the frontline of elections.”
Areas of expertise
Given the expertise of its members, the IEAC advises on election modernization, international election monitoring, voter education and initiatives supporting electoral reform, as well as best practices for automated voter registration, voting, and vote counting.
In 2016, the IEAC launched a report called “The Future of Elections”. It was a collection of essays on the role that technology can play to improve elections on a global scale and reflections on critical questions such as how to enfranchise the disenfranchised and which countries are leading the curve on digital democracy. Some of the subjects covered by the Council’s expertise include:
* International democracy assistance: "For democracy to thrive, robust election processes are required that permit citizens to choose their leaders, as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Voting technology can greatly benefit democracy by enhancing election integrity and security." Richard W. Soudriette , Pioneering Digital Democracy Worldwide
* Election observation: "The work of independent electoral commissions in providing mutual support, in designing instruments for election observation, and in undertaking training and research is critical to strengthening democracy. An increasing number of them are turning to technology to improve election processes. The use of technology in elections is not just a technical issue, it is becoming a public policy matter.” Brigalia Bam, Digitising Democracy in Africa
* Enfranchising marginalised voters: “Election authorities have been much too slow to adopt and adapt to new technologies that can better serve disabled and overseas voters. It is time to bring these advances into the voting process and take serious steps to empower these historically disenfranchised voters. The time for 21st century voting technology and methods is now — and long overdue.” Paul S. DeGregorio, Enfranchising the Disenfranchised - the Case for Election Technology
* Pre-election assessments: “We cannot stick with the status quo. Declining turnouts, increasingly mobile populations, diverse electorates and ever-increasing elections demand that the UK's trusted electoral system adapts and changes to meet the needs and lives of 21st century voters.” Charles Lasham, Bringing UK Elections Up to Speed
* Election technology adoption: “Use of technology brings challenges but these are surmountable. Fear of potential problems should in no way diminish the need for improved and increased use of technology in elections. We need to forge a strong alliance for the consolidation and expansion of the use of technology.” Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, Towards Effective Elections in Nigeria
* Election integrity: “It is possible to organize elections with integrity in Mexico and Latin America with the use of developed electoral technology. The use of such technology will ensure the credibility and transparency of elections, helping citizens to have more trust in the results.” Dr Leonardo Valdés Zurita, Electoral Technology and Democratic Challenges in Mexico and Latin America
* Training for election management bodies: “It's now abundantly clear that elections will never be the same again. Technology will rule- both in the run up to the vote and at the ballot box itself. Smart electoral management bodies who are quick to realize this are the ones reaping the fruits for them and their citizens.” Dr S.Y. Quraishi, Boosting Voter Participation: The Indian Experience
* Online voting: “The ultimate aim is not just that we have the option to vote online but we have a much broader electronic engagement with our government, where we are able to express our views on a continuous basis, secure in the knowledge that it will reach those in power.” Brigalia Bam, Digitising Democracy in Africa <ref name=":1" />
Criticisms
The IEAC, as an organisation created by a private election technology manufacturer and working directly with election technology stakeholders (i.e. election management bodies, election staff, election technology providers, auditors and voters among others) must face and manage manifold challenges. Political, economic, socio-cultural and even technical complexities should be addressed by the Council in order to accomplish its mission in a customized and independent way.
Critics of the IEAC members’ previous performance in their electoral public posts might also expose particular skepticism for the Council’s advice in specific regions and/or issues. Based on the experts’ past experiences with political campaigners, reforms’ detractors, technologists and public participation, dealing with criticism should be expected.

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