The Role of Political Parties and Interest Groups

Voter registration involves several stakeholders. Citizens and the government's election administration apparatus are the most obvious stakeholders. But a number of other stakeholders have an interest in the outcome of the voter registration process inasmuch as it may effect the election outcome. These stakeholders include the government, the military, political parties, interest groups, social institutions such as the church, foreign governments, and international organisations.

Registration and System Legitimacy

One of the primary objectives of a voter registration system is to increase the legitimacy of the election outcome. The perceived legitimacy of an election rests largely with these stakeholders. It is for this reason that election administrators find it in their interest to develop open and transparent processes of voter registration, and to welcome the involvement of certain stakeholders in overseeing the registration process.

Foreign Interests

Foreign governments, foreign nongovernmental organisations, and international organisations fulfil an important role in providing assistance in democratic election administration, and by supplying international election observation personnel and services. Providing an international stamp of approval can go a considerable distance in ensuring that an election is viewed as a legitimate and definitive statement of the will of the people.

Domestic Interests

Domestically, the stakeholders may feel they have more at stake than international observers in the election process and outcome, and they are right. Because of the stakes involved control over the machinery of government some may be tempted to play a role of more direct involvement in the election process rather than providing oversight and contributing to system legitimacy.

Wherever possible, it is best to provide encouragement for all domestic stakeholders to facilitate the development of fair and impartial election administration machinery and practices. Often the international community, with the assistance of the international election observers, can help convince the domestic stakeholders of the wisdom of enabling fair and impartial practices to be implemented.

Gaining importance in providing election oversight and system legitimacy is the use of domestic election monitors, often in conjunction with international observers. A discussion in Elections Today illustrates the role that domestic election monitors played in the Nicaraguan election.⁵⁷