Voting stations that are located in areas that have no suitable permanent premises for voting will require the use of temporary structures.
Appropriate temporary structures vary in style, according to local costs, weather conditions, and transport availability.
Typically, tents or canvas or plastic sheeting shelters would be used and delivered for erection with the voting materials. However, some other solutions have proven effective when available and suitable transport can be provided. Shipping containers, for example, can make effective portable voting stations. They also have the added advantage of providing adequate security for materials if delivered on site prior to voting day.
In environments where there is little risk of inclement weather and where voting in the open is an accepted practice, it may be possible to dispense with any structure and have the voting station area merely delimited with ropes or similar barriers. Mobile voting stations catering to very small numbers of people at a voting location may be able to dispense with temporary structures or barriers altogether.
Light/Power
Lighting equipment needs to be supplied with portable structures or permanent structures without reliable electricity if the voting station set-up, voting, or counting is to continue through hours of darkness.
The supply of generators and portable lights may be necessary for larger voting stations. Where this is not cost-effective or feasible, gas or battery lamps can be suitable--preferably battery powered, for safety reasons.
It is important that operating instructions are supplied with this equipment. It is necessary to ensure that voting officials are given adequate training on how to use temporary lighting supplies as they may be unfamiliar with, for example, safe methods of replacing gas cylinders on gas lamps.
