The successful generation of electronically excited states of many laser dyes by electrochemical means (ECL or electrogenerated chemiluminescence) led to experimental inquiries aimed at producing population inversion and laser action in these systems. The electrode is examined in this paper in terms of its adverse properties; among those discussed are reflectivity, quenching of ions and excited states, and acoustic disturbance patterns set up during the most commonly used pulsed ECL. This last problem is amenable to investigation by introducing electrodes into conventional optically pumped dye lasers, theoretically treated as a form of acousto-optic modulation.