In many countries, privacy laws will apply to EMBs. These laws will impose privacy standards on government agencies. However, where there are no legislated privacy laws in force, an EMB would be well advised to follow its own voluntary privacy code. While an EMB should ensure that sensitive personal information is kept private, it should also have a clear policy stating what information held by the EMB is publicly available. Making information publicly available is an important part of ensuring the electoral process is transparent and open to public scrutiny.
Transparency helps to build trust in the electoral process.
As with an EMB's privacy policy, an EMB's information policy should clearly set out what information is made publicly available, and what needs to be done to gain access to information. The list of items that could be made available by an EMB is extensive, and could include everything held by the EMB that is not sensitive, such as private personal data and sensitive 'internal working documents' such as advice to Government. Again, where freedom of information laws are not in force, an EMB would be advised to establish its own voluntary procedures. Technology can be used to facilitate information availability. In particular, where large amounts of data are made available, it may be more convenient, and more useful, to make information available in an electronic form.