Individual citizens are the
first line of defence for free and fair elections. A well-informed voter who makes
acute observations and raises the right questions can expose, stop or deter an
integrity problem. Even a voter who is not well-informed, but who questions
something that does not seem right or correct, can be an effective integrity
mechanism. A voter can challenge unfair or arbitrary actions by sending letters
to the press or by filing a citizen complaint (where permitted, sometimes
requiring a certain number of submitters) with election management or an enforcement
body.
On election day, voters typically
spend anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes at the polling station, looking for their
names on the voter list, queuing, and marking and casting a ballot. In some
cases voters may spend more time, depending on how large the crowds are at the
polling place, and the complexity of the voting process (e.g., number of candidates, complexity and number of ballot-papers).
During their time at the polling station, voters can protect their own
interests and those of their fellow citizens by keeping a protective eye on the
electoral process and reporting irregularities.
They may also gain a valuable impression of the atmosphere at the
station and the immediately surrounding area.
A number of civil society
groups and non-governmental organizations encourage voters to protect the
integrity of the electoral process through recording their observations and
reporting them to electoral authorities and regular observers.
