As with the internal electoral process, the system to be used for external voting needs careful planning and implementation. It also needs to be methodically coordinated to ensure that all electors are treated equally under the relevant election law. The cost per voter for external voting will be higher than the cost for in-country voting but the budget will have to be integrated so that there is no discrimination against the external elector.

External voting adds complexity to the process but is a necessary part of extending the franchise to all eligible electors. ‘Today we have come to assume that democracy must guarantee virtually every adult citizen the right to vote’ (Dahl 1998: 3).

Although flexibility is important in order to meet the challenges, all decisions must be in compliance with the law. External voting, properly administered and implemented, will facilitate the democratic process and, in the case of refugee populations, encourage unity and reconciliation.