The process of registering voters and producing voter lists is one of the most important and time-consuming activities carried out by election management bodies (EMBs). Several types of technology can be used for voter registration application, including:

• database management software, for storing and manipulating data

• geographic information systems (GISs), for assigning voters to geographic locations and for ensuring quality and integrity of voter data

• imaging technologies that can be used for data entry as well as for identification needs, data matching and data recognition

• telecommunications technologies to support networked computer systems and other communication needs

• data storage media, such as disks, CD-ROMS and magnetic tapes

The first step in using technology for voter registration is to determine the requirements of the country voter registration such as:

• centralised versus decentralised

• permanent voter register with ongoing registration versus periodic registration

• the need or not to produce voter cards

• the need or not to use a voter card and a national identity card for voting

This analysis helps determine which available technologies are more appropriate to implement a specific kind of voter register.