Participation History as a Planning Tool
An analysis of expected voter participation rates underpins cost-effective and service-oriented implementation of voting operations activities, location of voting sites, effective allocation of all resources, and targeting of voter information services.
Analysis of past trends is a necessary factor in voting operations planning.
In some societies, however, analysis of the past may not be a reliable guide. This would be in situations where:
• there have been significant changes to the electoral system or voter eligibility rules;
• there have been major dislocations of population;
• there is uncertainty about or widespread distaste for the current political environment;
• undemocratic regimes are being disassembled.
• there is an emergence from a conflict situation.
In these cases, supplementation by current research on attitudes to voting in similar situations is useful. However, great emphasis on quantities and flexibility in contingency resources will generally be needed in such circumstances.
Compulsory Systems
Electoral systems with elements of compulsion to participate with regard to registering as a voter (either as a separate registration or de facto from compulsory registration on a civil register) or to attending to vote, will require different methods from voluntary systems both in resourcing of voting operations and voter information focus.
