Voting and the counting of that vote are the main events of the electoral process. Voting is the means by which voters make their choice among competing candidates and issues, and their collective vote determines who wins or loses an election. A free, fair and credible election requires that voting respects the democratic principle of one person - one vote, that only eligible persons vote, that they vote only once and that their vote is secret, freely cast without intimidation or interference.

There are several parts of the voting process that can affect the integrity of the process and the election results. These include the level of voter turnout, polling hours and location, having enough electoral materials for each polling station, Access to the polling stations, Security and whether the voter votes in person or by mail (see Absentee Voting). Outright voter fraud and intimidation is discussed in Discrimination, Intimidation and Fraud.

Turnout

The levels of voter participation can affect the integrity and legitimacy of the process, especially if the turnout is extremely low. Low turnout can be attributed to many factors, including voter apathy, lack of an interesting choice between candidates and the feeling that voting has little effect on what elected officials do. These kinds of problems can be addressed by effective voter and civic education programmes.

Turnout can also be affected by security concerns, bad weather or other factors beyond the control of election managers. Issues such as polling access can be addressed by electoral managers in their planning and placement of polling sites. They can also work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that a good security plan is developed.

In the U.S., for example, the National Voter Registration Act was passed to facilitate voter registration so that more Americans could vote. It resulted in 72.7% of the eligible population registered to vote (1996) which was the highest percentage of American voters registered since good record-keeping started in 1960. But even though more Americans were registered, voter turnout declined by more than 5%. ¹⁸⁶

Compulsory voting

A high degree of participation among all social groups is achieved in some countries through compulsory voting. In these systems, voting is considered as a civic duty as well as a right of citizenship. This system exists in Australia, for example, where compulsory voting was originally instituted because of low turnouts. It is also practised in Brazil, where voting is compulsory for 19 to 69-year-olds, but voluntary for those 16 to 18 and over 70.

An integrity question raised by compulsory voting is whether a low turnout is also a means by which voters deliberately express their dissatisfaction with government policies and candidates, rather than being a result of apathy or ignorance. Although, in compulsory voting systems voters can express dissatisfaction through the casting of unmarked ballots.

Timing

Timing of the polls can play a critical role in the integrity of the elections. Are the polls open long enough so that all those who want to vote are able to vote? Are they open on a working day or a holiday when work hours are not a factor? Some countries hold polling over several days to ensure that voters have enough time to vote. This in turn can raise other integrity issues, such as protecting the ballots overnight when the polls are closed.

Fair polling requires standard hours that are widely publicized so all citizens know when the polls are open, and that they are open long enough so that all voters have an equal opportunity to participate. In New Zealand, for instance, the law requires an employer to let employees off at 3 PM for the rest of the day so that all working persons can vote. ¹⁸⁷

In the case of Canada, poll hours were extended to 12 hours so that everyone would have enough time to vote. They also staggered the times for the opening and closing of the polls across the country so that a majority of the results would be available at approximately the same time across the country. ¹⁸⁸

Staggering polling hours can address some of the integrity issues that are created by the voting across different time zones, which were discussed in the Electoral Campaign. In large countries, the election results can be announced for the eastern portions of the country before the voters in the western portions of the country start to vote. In the U.S., for example, voters in the small state of Hawaii will know the results of a presidential election before they can start voting, and, unless the race is extremely close, they also know that their vote will not make a difference.

In India, another country with many time zones, voting is held on different days in different constituencies. One of the reasons for this is so that the security forces will not be spread too thin and will be able to maintain law and order. It also enables monitors to cover more of the polls. ¹⁸⁹

Polling times can be changed in some systems if a postponement is necessary to ensure a free and fair election. This is discussed under Discrimination, Intimidation and Fraud.

Having adequate polling staff and electoral materials

It is essential for the integrity of the electoral process that citizens be able to cast their vote freely and easily. This means that there must be enough ballots and election materials at every polling site. As discussed in Ballots, these materials must be in place in time for the opening of the polls. Polling stations need to be adequately staffed. Poll workers should meet minimum professional qualifications and be adequately trained so that they know the procedures, can recognize integrity problems when they arise and know how to address them. Not having enough staff or materials can result in voters being unable to vote on polling day. All of this requires good planning, procurement, operations and management by election officials.

Polling site locations

The location of a polling site can affect the integrity of the vote, especially if it is not located in a neutral, easily accessible or safe location. Polling sites in candidates homes or in government offices in countries in transition, may make voters uneasy and afraid that their vote is not secret. Sites that are hard to access may discourage voters from voting.

Some of the integrity considerations for selecting a polling site include:

• use of a politically neutral location that will be available on polling day, such as a school, public meeting hall or park;
• availablity of enough room for voters to line up without going into a street or onto adjacent properties;
• accessibility of the voting site, including the ability to find it easily;
• availability of transport to reach the voting places;
• traffic control to avoid jams around the polling sites;
• availability of parking facilities for voters;
• availability of telecommunication facilities for the staff to allow them to communicate any important problem that might occur;
• sensitivity to religious, cultural or other factors that might affect the polling location;
• security of the polling site to ensure that voters do not feel that to go to vote is a risky business; and
• the cost of the polling station and the ease which it can be obtained.

Some systems use mobile voting stations to facilitate access for those in isolated areas or those who are in hospitals or other institutions. Mobile voting shares most of the same integrity issues as fixed site voting, as well as the issues involved with ensuring that the mobile units are able to reach the sites intact and in time for the voters waiting there to vote. More on voter access can be found at Access.