PAFFREL was established in 1987 by representatives of several national-level civil society organizations. It has been registered as a non-profit organization under the Companies Act No.17 of 1982 and re-registered under Companies Act. No. 7 of 2007. It was formed at a time when the need had arisen for the civil society to intervene to ensure the democratic nature of elections as the contests was being affected by violence and violation of election laws.