The credibility and legitimacy of electoral processes is inextricably linked to electoral integrity. The Global Commission on Democracy, Elections and Security identified five major challenges to the conduct of elections with integrity in its 2012 report: building the rule of law to substantiate claims to human rights and electoral justice, developing professional and competent electoral management bodies (EMBs) with full independence of action, creating institutions and norms of multiparty competition and division of power, removing barriers to universal and equal political participation, and regulating political finance. Each of these challenges requires a multidimensional response that combines political willeffective institutional design and effective mobilization, implementation and management in practice. The organization and administration of multiparty democratic elections was not previously considered newsworthy. An election or direct democracy poll— such as a referendum—is, however, often the single largest activity that is ever organized in a country. It is a very complex administrative task, which is implemented in a politically charged atmosphere. When it is done well, it may attract little comment. When it is not done well, or when it is undermined, the effects can be catastrophic.