𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗖 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮

The recent declaration by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, that the Commission cannot be truly independent without financial autonomy has reignited national conversations on electoral reforms in Nigeria.

Following the statement, NigerDelta Voice conducted a comparative investigation into the electoral system of the United States to examine how election management institutions operate, how they are funded, and the factors that contribute to their independence.

Findings

Unlike Nigeria, the United States does not have a single national electoral body responsible for conducting elections. Instead, elections are primarily organized and administered by individual states and local governments, with limited oversight and support from independent federal agencies.

At the federal level, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency responsible for enforcing campaign finance laws, ensuring transparency in political funding, and overseeing the public financing of presidential campaigns. Meanwhile, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) provides technical support, certifies voting systems, conducts research, and distributes federal grants to states to improve election administration.

How the U.S. Electoral System is Funded

The investigation revealed that election administration in the United States is financed through multiple sources.

State and local governments provide the bulk of funding for organizing elections, including voter registration, polling centres, election personnel, voting equipment and ballot printing. In addition, the U.S. Congress appropriates federal funds through the Election Assistance Commission under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which distributes grants to states to strengthen election administration and security. Since 2003, the EAC has administered billions of dollars in federal grants for election improvements.

The Federal Election Commission itself receives its operational budget directly through congressional appropriations rather than from the Executive Branch, enabling it to carry out its statutory responsibilities.

Is the U.S. Electoral Body Truly Independent?

The investigation found that the FEC and EAC were established by law as independent, bipartisan agencies designed to operate without day-to-day political control. The FEC is composed of six commissioners, with no more than three members belonging to the same political party, a structure intended to reduce partisan dominance.

However, experts note that independence is not absolute. Recent developments in 2026, including changes to the leadership of the Election Assistance Commission, have generated debate over the extent to which political actors can influence independent election agencies.

Factors Supporting Electoral Independence in the United States

The investigation identified several factors that strengthen the independence of election administration in the United States:

• Statutory establishment of independent election agencies.
• Direct funding through congressional appropriations.
• Bipartisan leadership structures that prevent domination by one political party.
• Decentralized election administration across the 50 states, reducing concentration of power.
• Strong judicial oversight capable of reviewing and overturning unlawful electoral decisions.
• Extensive transparency requirements, including mandatory disclosure of campaign finances and public reporting.

Implications for Nigeria

The findings suggest that while financial autonomy is an important pillar of institutional independence, it is not the only requirement for credible elections.

Experts argue that genuine electoral independence also depends on constitutional safeguards, transparent appointment processes, bipartisan or non-partisan leadership, legal protections from political interference, judicial oversight, and adequate funding that is insulated from executive control.

As Nigeria continues discussions on electoral reforms ahead of future elections, the experience of the United States demonstrates that sustainable electoral credibility is achieved through a combination of financial independence, strong institutions, accountability, and the rule of law.