Full text can be accessed at https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-279891601/the-zanzibar-electoral-commission-and-its-fecklessFree and fair elections are some of the essential qualities of a mature democratic and stable society. Ideally, losers in an election normally concede defeat, an outcome that is more likely if they feel that the election was fairly managed. The situation is different in a deeply divided society lacking a consensus over the rules of the political game and where the main political actors do not trust each other or the institutions that manage elections. In such a society, and especially when one actor has a monopoly over the rules of the game, chaos is likely to occur. Viewed from the perspective of a divided society, an independent and impartial electoral body as one of the requirements for a tree and fair election is crucial for reducing the likelihood of post-election violence.